Written Answers Thursday 6 September 2007

Scottish Executive

Air Services

Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to continue the benefits of the recently ended Air Route Development Fund.

Stewart Stevenson: The Scottish Government intends to promote and encourage the maintenance and expansion of Scotland’s international air connections which avoid the need for travellers to use connecting flights and reduce reliance on UK internal flights. The mechanism to assist the development of direct international air links is currently being revised in view of European Union Guidelines on start-up aid for new air services.

Alcohol Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce offending related to alcohol misuse.

Kenny MacAskill: This government is firmly committed to tackling alcohol misuse and the associated problems faced by our communities.

  We recently announced that we are looking at the legal position concerning offences associated with alcohol misuse. We will examine how we can make a clear statement in law that being drunk will simply not be accepted in courts as an excuse for bad behaviour.

  We also listen to the views of professionals who deal with the enforcement of alcohol laws. That is why I will shortly be convening a licensing summit with representatives from licensing boards and ACPOS to discuss how effective current enforcement mechanisms are and how they might be improved to help us tackle alcohol misuse.

Ambulance Service

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults on Scottish Ambulance Service staff were reported in each year since 1990.

Shona Robison: The information is not collected centrally. The Scottish Ambulance Service began capturing information on the numbers of incidents of violence and aggression towards staff in August 2004 when it issued guidance to staff about the need to report such incidents. There were 265 incidents reported in 2005 and 299 in 2006. In 2007 to 31 July, there were 117 incidents reported.

Antisocial Behaviour

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what value it places on community policing to tackle antisocial behaviour and youth crime.

Fergus Ewing: Community policing has a vital role to play in making our communities safer, tackling fear of crime and deterring criminals. That is why we have committed to providing additional policing capacity for the frontline.

Antisocial Behaviour

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to reduce alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour in the Highlands and Islands.

Fergus Ewing: Reducing alcohol-fuelled crime and antisocial behaviour is a key priority for this government. We are funding local agencies in the Highlands and Islands to provide a range of services aimed at delivering this outcome.

Audiology

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what effect the recent announcement on the role of the private sector will have on the provision of audiology services in NHS Scotland.

Shona Robison: The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing has publicly made clear the Scottish Government’s opposition on the use of public money to assist the private sector compete with the NHS.

  The national private sector call-off contract, put in place under the audiology modernisation project to support NHS boards in reducing waiting times, recently ended. In the meantime, the Allied Health Professionals contract, which runs until May 2008, allows NHS boards to employ temporary locum audiologists to assist in reducing waiting times.

Audiology

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether audiology waiting times will be brought into line with those of other NHS consultant-led services and targeted to 18 weeks from GP referral to fitting of hearing aid.

Shona Robison: Since audiology services are not consultant-led, or defined as a speciality, and are a sub-specialty of ear, nose and throat, they do not fall under the current 18 week target of the Scottish Government. However, the Scottish Government is committed to improving services for the benefit of patients, is pleased that a number of NHSScotland boards have met, and in some cases exceeded, the 26 week target from referral to fitting set by the Audiology Modernisation Project Board and will continue to measure boards’ progress towards modernisation of the service allowing us to identify regional variations in service delivery and standards.

  Where waiting times remain unacceptably high, the Scottish Government continues to work directly with the boards involved to help improve the situation as a matter of urgency.

Audiology

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how long on average (a) children and (b) adults needing cochlear implants have waited for treatment in each year since 2002-03 from (i) GP to ENT consultant, (ii) ENT consultant to formal assessment and (iii) formal assessment to cochlear implant operation, broken down by NHS board.

Shona Robison: The following table contains information on average waiting times for assessment and treatment by the two Scottish centres providing cochlear implant operations. This information is not available broken down by NHS board, nor as separate adult and children waiting times.

  

 
 
(i) GP to ENT
(ii) ENT to Formal Assessment
(iii) Formal Assessment to Cochlear Implant Operation


 
2002-03
4 weeks
No data available
No data available


Western General
2003-04
4 weeks
12 weeks
7 weeks
8 weeks max


2004-05
4 weeks
8 weeks max
36 weeks
72 weeks max
8 weeks
12 weeks max


2005-06
6 weeks
10 weeks max
20 weeks
40 weeks max
9 weeks
12 weeks max


2006-07
4 weeks
8 weeks
10 weeks
20 weeks max


2002-03
5 weeks
9 weeks max
7 weeks
10 weeks max
10 weeks
12 weeks max


Crosshouse
2003-04
5 weeks
9 weeks max
7 weeks
10 weeks max
10 weeks
12 weeks max


2004-05
5.5 weeks 9 weeks max
No data available
7 weeks
14 weeks max


2005-06
7 weeks
17 weeks max
No data available
8 weeks
23 weeks max


2006-07
7 weeks
19 weeks max
No data available
8 weeks
23 weeks max



  Source: National Services Division.

  Note: Western General Hospital treats adults only, Crosshouse Hospital treats adults and children.

  (ii) In some instances no data has been collected on waiting times from ENT to formal assessment, (instead the duration of the assessment period was recorded by the service).

Audiology

Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cochlear implant operations have been performed on (a) children and (b) adults in each NHS board area in 2006-07.

Shona Robison: National data submission for 2006-07 hospital activity is not yet complete. The information for the years 2003-2006 was contained in the answer to S3W-652, answered on 14 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

  No update to this can be made at present.

Banking

Keith Brown (Ochil) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether an agreement between eight leading banks and the Office of Fair Trading to put on hold the legal claims of customers regarding unfair penalty charges is being improperly applied to claims made under Scots law and preventing them from proceeding.

Kenny MacAskill: There is no evidence to suggest that the agreement is being improperly applied to prevent such claims before the Scottish courts from proceeding. Any decision as to whether to put any particular Scottish proceedings on hold by sisting them is entirely a matter for the Scottish court in question having regard to the whole facts and circumstances.

Broadcasting

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget will be for the proposed Scottish Broadcasting Commission.

Linda Fabiani: The costs for the Scottish Broadcasting Commission will be met from existing budgets. Total costs have not yet been decided, but will depend upon a work plan for the conduct of the commission, which remains to be settled.

Building Standards

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that every new building meets the highest standards and has an element for renewable energy and, if so, how it will do so and how much it estimates that including an element of renewable energy will add to the cost of each new home.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA) to answer. His response is as follows:

  Revised energy standards were introduced on 1 May 2007 for all new buildings and also existing buildings which are converted, extended or altered. These measures are the best in the UK and encourage developers to consider the use of low and zero carbon technologies.

  An expert panel is being established which will meet this September. Revisions to the energy standards in Scottish building regulations will be kick-started by this meeting and issues such as mandatory low and zero carbon technologies and Scandinavian energy standards will be on the agenda.

  Research is underway to assess the impact on new buildings of various scenarios for reducing emissions of carbon dioxide which will include costings for the installation of low and zero carbon technologies, including micro-renewables. Cost information on each technology is available, but it is not possible to give a typical additional cost for a new home due to the variety of house-types and site layouts of new homes and the technology selected. Equally it is difficult to make a general statement about the energy generated by particular technologies due to differences between buildings and sites.

Building Standards

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to benchmarking building standards against the best in Europe, as set out in a 2006 SNP press release entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and, if so, what practical steps ministers have taken to progress such a commitment.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The agency are currently working to the 2007 SNP manifesto commitments "It’s time to move forward". The aims are consistent with those in the publication entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland. Research work is underway to benchmark the energy standards in Scottish building regulations with those in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, which are currently acknowledged to be the best in Europe. A strategy, with input from an expert panel, for low carbon buildings and energy efficiency will be published later in the year.

Building Standards

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to ensuring that every newly built home and office will be of the highest standard, as set out in a 2006 SNP press release entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland, and, if so, what standard it will apply and what practical steps ministers have taken to progress such a commitment.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The agency are currently working to the 2007 SNP manifesto commitments "It’s time to move forward". The aims are broadly consistent with those in the publication entitled It’s Time for a Greener Scotland. An expert panel has been set up to produce a low carbon building standards strategy and this will be published later in the year. It is intended that this document will provide a route map to low carbon buildings, with an aspiration towards zero carbon buildings.

Building Standards

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2352 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, under what circumstances a building owner is required to comply with current building regulations when converting, altering or extending an existing building and which sections of building regulations require to be complied with under such circumstances.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  Schedule 2 to Regulation 4 and Schedule 6 to Regulation 12 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended, respectively list all of the ‘triggers’ for conversions and current building standards which either apply to or apply so far as is reasonably practicable to conversions. With regard to energy, where a building is converted, so far as is reasonably practicable, it shall meet the energy standards 6.2 - 6.6 and shall not fail those standards to a greater degree than before the conversion. It shall also meet the requirements of energy standards 6.7 - 6.10.

  With respect to alterations and extensions to existing buildings, the new building work shall meet standards 6.2 - 6.10 and shall not cause the remainder of the building to fail the standards, or in the case of an older building, to a greater degree than before.

  The energy standards referred to above are contained in Schedule 5 to Regulation 9 of the Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004, as amended and are as follows:

  6.1 carbon dioxide emissions

  6.2 building insulation envelope

  6.3 heating system

  6.4 insulation of pipes, ducts and vessels

  6.5 artificial and display lighting

  6.6 mechanical ventilation and air conditioning

  6.7 commissioning building services

  6.8 written information

  6.9 energy performance certificates

  6.10 metering (non-domestic only).

  It should be noted that standard 6.1 "carbon dioxide emissions" only applies to new buildings, where a "whole building" approach is possible. Where a building is converted, altered or extended it is not feasible to apply standard 6.1 and in these cases a traditional elemental approach is followed.

Care of Elderly People

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the membership and terms of reference of Lord Sutherland’s review of free personal care have been announced.

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how members of the public may contribute to Lord Sutherland’s review of free personal care.

Shona Robison: The membership of the Independent Funding Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care, chaired by Lord Sutherland, was announced on 30 August 2007. The group is due to meet during September when it will consider its terms of reference and options for consultation and public engagement.

Care of Elderly People

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it expects to receive the interim report of Lord Sutherland’s review of free personal care.

Shona Robison: The review will provide a short update following its meeting in September.

Care of Elderly People

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many residents in care homes received free (a) personal care and (b) nursing care payments in (i) 2004-05, (ii) 2005-06 and (iii) 2006-07, broken down by local authority area.

Shona Robison: The information requested is given in the following tables:

  

Local Authority
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
430
430
440


Aberdeenshire
480
470
450


Angus
280
280
280


Argyll and Bute
210
240
250


Clackmannanshire
30
40
50


Dumfries and Galloway
390
280
290


Dundee City
200
210
220


East Ayrshire
140
140
160


East Dunbartonshire
250
270
290


East Lothian
170
170
170


East Renfrewshire
210
210
240


Edinburgh, City of
1,280
1,360
1,320


Eilean Siar
20
20
20


Falkirk
140
140
150


Fife
700
730
800


Glasgow city
610
630
650


Highland 
400
400
400


Inverclyde
150
150
160


Midlothian
80
80
90


Moray
160
190
180


North Ayrshire
230
240
250


North Lanarkshire
170
200
230


Orkney Islands
10
10
20


Perth and Kinross
490
470
450


Renfrewshire
200
220
240


Scottish Borders
110
100
100


Shetland Islands
0
0
0


South Ayrshire
330
360
360


South Lanarkshire
450
480
490


Stirling
230
240
220


West Dunbartonshire
70
80
80


West Lothian
110
120
130


Scotland estimate
8,740
8,960
9,200



  Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring.

  Table b: Number of Self-Funders in Care Homes Receiving Free Nursing Care

  (Yearly Averages)

  

Local Authority
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
290
290
350


Aberdeenshire
340
350
330


Angus
110
120
130


Argyll and Bute
80
100
90


Clackmannanshire
30
40
40


Dumfries and Galloway
310
220
220


Dundee City
110
110
130


East Ayrshire
100
90
110


East Dunbartonshire
190
200
230


East Lothian
130
130
140


East Renfrewshire
130
160
170


Edinburgh, City of
970
1,030
1,010


Eilean Siar
10
10
10


Falkirk
120
120
130


Fife
400
410
450


Glasgow city
380
380
370


Highland 
170
160
180


Inverclyde
110
110
130


Midlothian
60
60
60


Moray
110
140
140


North Ayrshire
140
150
160


North Lanarkshire
120
140
170


Orkney Islands
0
0
0


Perth and Kinross
230
240
230


Renfrewshire
150
160
180


Scottish Borders
50
50
50


Shetland Islands
0
0
0


South Ayrshire
280
290
290


South Lanarkshire
290
310
330


Stirling
140
150
140


West Dunbartonshire
40
40
40


West Lothian
90
90
100


Scotland estimate
5,690
5,850
6,080



  Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring

  Notes:

  All figures are yearly averages rounded to the nearest 10.

  Figures may not sum due to rounding.

  Scottish Borders have revised their estimates since the last publication of Community Care Quarterly Key monitoring.

Care of Elderly People

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spent per client on free personal care in each year since its introduction in (a) real and (b) cash terms.

Shona Robison: Free personal care is available to people aged 65 and over who live in their own home, or are self funding and living in a care home. For those in care homes, local authorities pay £145 per week to the care provider towards their personal care costs. This payment level has remained static since the policy was introduced in July 2002. The Scottish Government will increase payments for personal and nursing care in line with inflation from April 2008.

  Table 1 shows the weekly expenditure per client for free personal care in a care home in both real and cash terms.

  Table 1: Weekly Expenditure Per Client for Free Personal Care in a Care Home

  

 
Year


2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007


Free Personal Care payment – cash terms
£145
£145
£145
£145
£145
£145


Free Personal Care payment – real terms1
£157
£156
£153
£151
£148
£145



  Note: 1. Figures are in real terms; they have been adjusted to 2007 prices using the Consumer Price Index as inflation measure.

  Table 2 shows the annual net expenditure per client on personal care services for older people living in their own homes.

  

Local Authority
2002- 03
2003- 04
2004- 05
2005- 06


Aberdeen City
3,458
3,734
4,552
4,931


Aberdeenshire
3,036
2,692
2,898
3,049


Angus
2,246
2,060
1,950
2,707


Argyll and Bute
7,721
6,334
8,530
12,119


Clackmannanshire
2,453
2,645
2,781
3,975


Dumfries and Galloway
3,159
4,631
5,275
5,840


Dundee City
6,547
7,840
6,531
4,954


East Ayrshire
3,506
3,382
3,737
4,060


East Dunbartonshire
3,103
3,649
3,480
4,197


East Lothian
2,451
4,112
5,597
5,322


East Renfrewshire
2,767
2,094
2,026
1,834


Edinburgh, City of
3,829
4,267
4,723
6,450


Eilean Siar
2,905
5,473
5,611
4,798


Falkirk
2,762
3,574
2,144
3,132


Fife
3,227
3,136
4,123
4,297


Glasgow city
2,774
3,116
3,083
3,204


Highland 
3,261
2,651
2,482
2,241


Inverclyde
2,521
2,998
3,133
4,545


Midlothian
5,208
3,571
3,578
7,321


Moray
3,100
3,394
4,658
4,692


North Ayrshire
1,764
1,581
1,510
2,222


North Lanarkshire
5,395
5,348
4,325
3,749


Orkney Islands
2,662
2,179
2,599
3,430


Perth and Kinross
5,470
4,171
3,518
4,220


Renfrewshire
2,987
3,130
2,838
2,773


Scottish Borders
2,830
2,852
2,865
2,173


Shetland Islands
6,674
6,520
7,097
9,579


South Ayrshire
3,535
4,576
4,866
5,213


South Lanarkshire
3,687
5,908
7,425
6,170


Stirling
3,616
3,128
3,580
2,776


West Dunbartonshire
2,255
2,126
2,966
2,054


West Lothian
3,294
3,138
3,265
3,049


Scotland estimate
3,386
3,673
3,863
4,082



  Sources: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring and Local Financial Return (LFR3).

  Table 3 shows the same information but adjusted to take inflation into account.

  Annual Expenditure Per Client Receiving Personal Care at Home (Real Terms)

  

Local Authority
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06


Aberdeen City
3,625
3,862
4,645
4,931


Aberdeenshire
3,182
2,784
2,957
3,049


Angus
2,354
2,131
1,990
2,707


Argyll and Bute
8,093
6,551
8,704
12,119


Clackmannanshire
2,572
2,735
2,838
3,975


Dumfries and Galloway
3,311
4,789
5,382
5,840


Dundee City
6,862
8,108
6,665
4,954


East Ayrshire
3,675
3,497
3,813
4,060


East Dunbartonshire
3,253
3,774
3,551
4,197


East Lothian
2,569
4,253
5,711
5,322


East Renfrewshire
2,900
2,166
2,067
1,834


Edinburgh, City of
4,014
4,413
4,819
6,450


Eilean Siar
3,045
5,660
5,726
4,798


Falkirk
2,896
3,696
2,188
3,132


Fife
3,383
3,243
4,207
4,297


Glasgow city
2,908
3,222
3,146
3,204


Highland 
3,419
2,741
2,532
2,241


Inverclyde
2,643
3,100
3,197
4,545


Midlothian
5,460
3,694
3,651
7,321


Moray
3,250
3,511
4,753
4,692


North Ayrshire
1,849
1,635
1,541
2,222


North Lanarkshire
5,656
5,531
4,413
3,749


Orkney Islands
2,791
2,253
2,652
3,430


Perth and Kinross
5,733
4,313
3,589
4,220


Renfrewshire
3,131
3,237
2,896
2,773


Scottish Borders
2,966
2,950
2,924
2,173


Shetland Islands
6,996
6,743
7,242
9,579


South Ayrshire
3,706
4,733
4,966
5,213


South Lanarkshire
3,865
6,110
7,576
6,170


Stirling
3,791
3,235
3,653
2,776


West Dunbartonshire
2,364
2,198
3,027
2,054


West Lothian
3,453
3,245
3,332
3,049


Scotland estimate
3,550
3,799
3,942
4,082



  Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring.

  Note: 1. Figures are in real terms; they have been adjusted to 2007 prices using the Consumer Price Index as inflation measure.

Care of Elderly People

Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people have received free personal care in each year since its introduction, broken down by local authority.

Shona Robison: The number of people who received free personal care in each year since 2002-03, broken down by local authority are detailed in the following table.

  These figures include all older people resident in care homes who are supported by local authorities and all people receiving personal care services in their own homes which are provided or purchased by local authorities.

  Table 1: Number of People Receiving Free Personal Care

  

Local Authority
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Aberdeen City
3,140
3,140
3,140
3,220
3,390


Aberdeenshire
2,560
2,660
2,770
3,020
3,190


Angus
1,460
1,510
1,550
1,510
1,510


Argyll and Bute
1,050
1,110
1,050
1,070
1,140


Clackmannanshire
500
610
610
700
730


Dumfries and Galloway
2,210
2,240
2,210
2,170
2,180


Dundee City
1,480
1,620
1,700
2,100
2,020


East Ayrshire
1,230
1,600
1,730
1,810
1,940


East Dunbartonshire
900
1,120
1,240
1,310
1,170


East Lothian
1,250
1,280
1,310
1,430
1,470


East Renfrewshire
980
990
1,030
1,110
1,090


Edinburgh, City of
4,400
5,000
5,370
5,490
5,660


Eilean Siar
510
610
590
640
650


Falkirk
1,620
1,700
1,880
1,910
1,930


Fife
4,750
5,200
5,330
5,350
5,440


Glasgow city
8,170
8,780
9,830
10,860
9,340


Highland 
2,610
2,820
3,000
3,280
3,230


Inverclyde
1,460
1,450
1,520
1,500
1,590


Midlothian
750
800
810
990
760


Moray
1,070
1,120
1,130
1,260
1,320


North Ayrshire
1,540
1,680
1,810
1,830
1,840


North Lanarkshire
2,950
3,220
3,490
4,310
3,760


Orkney Islands
240
260
270
300
280


Perth and Kinross
1,490
1,880
2,120
2,170
2,090


Renfrewshire
1,590
1,740
1,860
2,000
2,080


Scottish Borders
1,460
1,620
1,790
1,860
1,770


Shetland Islands
280
300
300
270
290


South Ayrshire
1,860
1,890
1,970
2,040
2,140


South Lanarkshire
2,490
2,730
3,010
3,460
3,820


Stirling
910
980
970
1,000
970


West Dunbartonshire
960
1,180
1,140
1,550
1,520


West Lothian
1,740
1,900
1,650
1,540
1,570


Scotland estimate
59,580
64,760
68,190
73,060
71,870



  Source: Community Care Quarterly Key Monitoring.

  Note: All figures are yearly averages rounded to the nearest 10.

Care of Elderly People

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Lord Sutherland’s review of the policy of free personal and nursing care will consider the effect of the policy on other services delivered to older people in Scotland and, in particular, whether resources have been diverted from general services for older people to pay for free personal and nursing care services and what action will be taken to prevent any such diversion.

Shona Robison: The Independent Funding Review of Free Personal and Nursing Care, chaired by Lord Sutherland, will investigate the level and distribution of resources to local authorities in implementing this policy. Local authorities are required to meet their statutory responsibilities for the assessment and delivery of services to older people in their area. It is for each individual local authority to determine the most appropriate allocation of the total resources available to it to meet these and it’s other responsibilities.

Changing Children’s Services Fund

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.

Adam Ingram: Dumfries and Galloway Council received a total of £1,963,000 from the Changing Children’s Services Fund in 2006-07 and will receive £1,943,000 in 2007-08. The slight reduction in the 2007-08 allocation reflects the formula agreed with the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities for the increased proportion of the Fund distributed through Grant Aided Expenditure.

Child Protection

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many telephone calls have been handled by the National Child Protection Line in each month since its launch in February 2007.

Adam Ingram: The Child Protection Line has answered the following calls since February 2007:

  

Feb 2007
98


March 2007
82


April 2007
40


May 2007
36


June 2007
44


July 2007
27


Total
327

Children with Disabilities

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that any extra money it receives as a result of the UK Government’s recent announcement of additional funding for services for children with disabilities is distributed fairly and in a way that recognises the additional costs of providing viable and appropriate support such children in rural areas, particularly in the Highlands and Islands.

Adam Ingram: All funding eligible for allocation to Scottish budgets by way of budget consequentials is held centrally. It is then allocated by the Scottish Government in light of all competing pressures and the government’s priorities.

  At the present time there has been no indication of the status of this announcement on support for disabled children.

  Rurality is taken into account in the allocation of funding to local authorities through the core local government finance settlement. The grand aided expenditure (GAE) funding mechanism is a needs-based methodology that helps determine the allocation of that funding. Rurality has been identified as a financial pressure for some local authorities and as such it is a factor recognised within the series of indicators that contribute towards the calculation of GAE lines. These indicators recognise the particular needs that are associated with population dispersal.

Community Care

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to respond to the recommendation in Community Care Providers Scotland’s report, Social Care and Support Services in the Voluntary Sector: Funding Survey 2007 , that central government should review spending levels on social care and support in relation to (a) demand for services and (b) the effect of the introduction of a number of initiatives in recent years.

Shona Robison: Ministers are in dialogue with a range of stakeholders to gather evidence and views on how we can use the strategic spending review to set plans that will enable us to fulfil our purpose and achieve our strategic objectives. Social care and support will be part of that consideration.

Community Regeneration

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will make an announcement on the future of the Community Regeneration Fund.

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has given or plans to give to community planning partnerships about the future of the Community Regeneration Fund.

Stewart Maxwell: The Community Regeneration Fund is being considered as part of the current Strategic Spending Review. The Scottish Government will be making announcements on its future as soon as is practical.

Community Regeneration

Malcolm Chisholm (Edinburgh North and Leith) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many projects across Scotland are supported by the Community Regeneration Fund and when it considers it reasonable to supply information to those projects about future support.

Stewart Maxwell: Information on the number of projects and services supported by the Community Regeneration Fund (CRF) is not centrally held. The CRF is being considered as part of the current Strategic Spending Review. The Scottish Government will be making announcements on its future as soon as is practical.

Community Safety

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the Community Safety Partnership Award Programme in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.

Fergus Ewing: Dumfries and Galloway Community Safety Partnership has been awarded funding as detailed in the following table:

  

 
Funding Granted


2005-06
£85,353.57


2006-07
£103,916.88


2007-08
£93,525.19


Total
£282,795.64

Community Wardens

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has any plans to increase the powers available to community wardens and, if so, within what timescale.

Fergus Ewing: We have no current plans to increase the powers available to community wardens.

Council Tax

Alasdair Morgan (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made in developing a replacement for the council tax.

John Swinney: The government is committed to abolishing the unfair council tax as part of our agenda to create a wealthier and fairer Scotland. It is my intention to consult on our proposals before the end of this calendar year, and to introduce legislation to abolish the council tax and replace it with a fairer tax based on ability to pay in the 2008-09 parliamentary session.

Culture

Pauline McNeill (Glasgow Kelvin) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what responsibility the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth and the Minister for Enterprise, Energy and Tourism retain for Scotland’s creative industries and when they will outline their vision for the growth of this sector of the economy.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is collectively considering how to best support the creative industries in Scotland. We will make an announcement on this matter, setting out respective roles and responsibilities, when we publish our proposals for Creative Scotland.

Dentistry

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reintroduce a school-based dental service.

Shona Robison: We are currently considering detailed options for delivering a school-based dental service for school children in the most deprived areas.

Direct Payments

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to make changes to the infrastructure of the direct payments scheme and to further encourage local authorities to support them.

Shona Robison: New national guidance on self-directed support which issued in July tasks local authorities with developing local infrastructures and is designed to increase uptake. This can be accessed on http://www.scotland.gov.uk/181224 .

  Along with my Cabinet Secretary and ministerial colleagues, I am in dialogue with a range of stakeholders to gather evidence and views on how we use the strategic spending review to set plans that will enable us to fulfil our purpose and achieve our strategic objectives. Increasing the uptake of self-directed support will be part of that consideration.

Domestic Abuse

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to ensure that one in five women in Scotland do not suffer domestic abuse.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling violence against women and within that domestic abuse. We have committed £8.6 million of funding to cover a range of issues in 2007-08 and we will build on the work which has been undertaken to date in Scotland. We will continue to support women and children who experience domestic abuse and other forms of violence against women. To assist in that process the Scottish Government is in the process of developing a National Violence Against Women Strategy and action plan for broader work on violence against women.

  The National Domestic Abuse Delivery Group for Children and Young People is also working on a plan for addressing issues for children and young people affected by domestic abuse.

  The Scottish Government will continue to work with key stakeholders on the National Group to Address Violence Against Women and the National Domestic Abuse Delivery Group for Children and Young People to ensure that effective protection and support is available to those affected.

Domestic Abuse

Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding was provided to agencies in Dumfries and Galloway from the programme for prevention of domestic abuse in (a) 2005-06 and (b) 2006-07 and how much will be provided in 2007-08.

Stewart Maxwell: Funding was provided to a variety of organisations in Dumfries and Galloway to address domestic abuse and violence against women. In 2005-06 £184,630 was provided, in 2006-07 £319,865 was provided and in 2007-08 £327,255 has been allocated. This amounts to a total of £831,750 of Scottish Government funding to address domestic abuse and violence against women in Dumfries and Galloway over the three year period.

Dyslexia

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures are taken to ensure that children with dyslexia are properly identified.

Adam Ingram: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2930 on 27 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Dyslexia

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how the effectiveness of support for children with dyslexia and other learning support needs is reviewed and assessed.

Adam Ingram: Under the Education (Additional Support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004, education authorities must keep under consideration the additional support needs of, and the adequacy of additional support provided to, each child and young person with additional support needs for whose school education they are responsible.

  Her Majesty’s Inspector of Education (HMIE) as part of their general inspection programme, review and publish reports on the effectiveness of support and educational provision for children with additional support needs.

  Additionally, HMIE is undertaking a specific evaluation of dyslexia over the period 2007-08, which will provide a clear picture of support, provision and practice across Scotland. Their final report is due to be published in late 2008.

Dyslexia

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it considers that there are specific additional difficulties in meeting the needs of children and young people with dyslexia in relation to continuing professional development.

Adam Ingram: Through the national continuing professional development framework, the Scottish Executive expects all teachers to be able to recognise and know how to support pupils with additional support needs, including dyslexia.

  In support of this, following recent talks with the Executive, the General Teaching Council for Scotland have now added five new areas to their professional recognition framework, one of which is dyslexia. This will provide a clear pathway which teachers can use to gain recognition for their expertise in teaching children with dyslexia.

  In addition, the Executive provides education authorities with £7.2 million over 2007-08 specifically for the training and development of staff working with pupils with additional support needs, including dyslexia. The priority is to tailor educational provision to meet the needs of the individual pupil. A further £13.5 million is being issued over 2007-08 to allow local authorities to co-ordinate and provide continuing professional development for teachers.

Dyslexia

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many cases of dyslexia were identified in each year since 1980.

Adam Ingram: This information is not currently held centrally.

  However, from 2006, the Scottish Executive annual pupil census started to change how it records additional support needs and included a specific category to record pupils for whom dyslexia is reported as a reason for additional support being required. Previously such pupils were included in a wider category.

  Further information is available at:  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/12 and http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/02/27083941/14.

E.coli

Jackson Carlaw (West of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what investigations it has undertaken in relation to the recent outbreak of E.coli O157 in Paisley.

Shona Robison: This outbreak was a matter for the local health board. The outbreak in Paisley was therefore investigated and managed by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in close collaboration with Environmental Health, the Food Standards Agency, Health Protection Scotland and the Crown Office Procurator Fiscal Service. The Scottish Government was in close communication with the local Board and Health Protection Scotland throughout the incident.

  Once the outbreak is declared over the health board will follow up its own investigations with a report.

Electricity Act 1989

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which energy consents under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989 have been (a) agreed and (b) rejected by ministers since 16 May 2007.

Jim Mather: Since 16 May 2007, both the Decarbonised Fuels project at Peterhead Power Station and Inverlael hydro scheme have been approved by Scottish ministers (14 June and 4 July respectively). Scottish ministers refused an application for the Corlick Hill/Devol Moor wind farm near Greenock on 23 July 2007.

Energy

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to develop a comprehensive energy strategy, within the boundaries of its powers and responsibilities and in consultation with the UK Government, by the end of 2007.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government is committed to a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achieving sustainable economic growth. I have already started a dialogue with key stakeholders and this will continue so as to ensure a clear and shared strategy and achievement of objectives.

  Arising from this work, the government will produce a statement setting out a strategic overview for energy policy in Scotland by the end of the year. This will set out key objectives and priorities for Scotland and provide the context for the Executive, industry and other stakeholders to take forward a range of workstreams.

Energy Efficiency

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it intends to take to encourage local authorities to stimulate more energy-efficient housing designs through the building regulations system.

Stewart Stevenson: I have asked Dr. Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  In addition to the new building regulations which came into force on 1 May 2007, the SBSA is also reviewing energy standards with a view to introducing further improvements. These will further reduce CO2 emissions and improve the energy efficiency of all new buildings as well as existing ones being converted, altered or extended.

  The recent changes included improved energy standards which will provide more energy-efficient housing designs for all housing in Scotland, including those for local authorities, and will reduce CO2 emissions by 40% compared with housing constructed five years ago. The measures introduced have the capability to deliver the best CO2 emissions in the UK.

Enterprise

David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what strategic partnerships there are between Highlands and Islands and Scottish Enterprise and whether there are any crossover areas in these partnerships.

Jim Mather: Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and Scottish Enterprise collaborate closely on a wide range of joint strategic areas of operation which will, due to the nature of partnership working, inevitably involve some crossover. The following areas are based on formal partnership arrangements between HIE and Scottish Enterprise:

  Scottish Development International

  Careers Scotland

  Future Skills Scotland

  Investors In People Scotland

  Careers Trust Scotland Ltd

  Scottish Health Innovations Ltd

  Scottish Intellectual Asset Management Ltd

  ITI Scotland Ltd.

  HIE and Scottish Enterprise also collaborate on a number of projects aimed at growing business. These projects are:

  Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) - offering specialist support to manufacturing companies;

  Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) - promoting and supporting the co-operative sector, and

  The Enterprise Facilitator - a local enterprise development project being piloted in three locations: Kintyre, Perthshire and Dundee.

  Such partnership working also includes consideration of other issues, including the delivery of business support (account and client management, innovation policy and the Business Gateway).

  Further to this, HIE and Scottish Enterprise work closely in areas of economic inclusion. Scottish Enterprise is part of a consortium led by HIE which manages the "Growing Community Assets" strand of funding of the BIG Lottery. This Fund is used for community owned organisations which are seeking to buy and develop assets as a way of increasing their long term sustainability.

  There is also a wide range of regular joint working which may not be described as strategic partnerships but which operate across the Scottish Enterprise and HIE areas. These include a number of joint projects and shared ownership of key aspects of industries in areas of tourism, energy, life sciences, food and drink, textiles, marine and ship building, construction, creative industries, forest industries and music. In the skills area there are other examples of regular joint working, including the development of a flexible level 2 SVQ in conjunction with a range of partners.

Equal Opportunities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take to reduce the (a) part-time and (b) full-time gender pay gap.

Stewart Maxwell: As required by the Gender Equality Duty, which came into force in April 2007, the government has published its Gender Equality Scheme, setting out the government’s high-level objectives for delivering on gender equality. These include an objective to continue our action to close the gender pay gap (both part-time and full-time) in Scotland by working in partnership - with the Equal Opportunities Commission Scotland, Scottish Trades Union Congress, Scottish Enterprise and others - in the Close the Gap project. Close the Gap raises awareness about the gender pay gap and its various causes, and encourages action by employees and employers to tackle the causes and close the gap.

  Two other high-level objectives set out in the Gender Equality Scheme address main contributors to the gender pay gap, namely occupational segregation and pregnancy discrimination. In 2006 the government set up a Cross-Directorate Working Group to explore ways of tackling occupational segregation, and in 2008 the group will produce its report, mapping out the range of factors involved and making recommendations for policy interventions that will help deliver change.

  The government’s Gender Equality Scheme is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42934).

  The Scottish Government will continue to act to eliminate gender discrimination and continue to provide support to improve the availability of childcare across Scotland, both of which are important elements in addressing the pay gap.

  The government has also been working with stakeholders to raise awareness about the Gender Equality Duty and the opportunity for women (and men) to contribute to the development of public sector policy, including on issues of pay.

Equal Opportunities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the next four years to close the income gap between men and women to meet the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda targets.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the next four years to give better support to families to meet the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda targets.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the next four years to modernise public services so that they respond to men and women’s needs and meet the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda targets.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the next four years to provide equal access for men and women to justice and safety, in line with the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda targets.

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it will take in the next four years to promote sharing power equally between men and women in all areas of life, in line with the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda targets.

Stewart Maxwell: We welcome the wide-ranging 10-year targets for each of the goals within the Equal Opportunities Commission’s Gender Agenda, which was made publicly available on 23 August 2007.

  As required by the Gender Equality Duty, which came into force in April 2007, the Scottish Government has published its Gender Equality Scheme, setting out the Government’s high level objectives for delivering on gender equality. These include objectives on some of the 10-year targets within the Gender Agenda. For example, there are objectives on closing the gender pay gap, addressing occupational segregation, ending pregnancy discrimination at work and violence against women. The scheme is available from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 42934).

  We will, however, be considering how best to engage with the targets as set out by the EOC in the coming months, this will be best achieved as part of the annual reporting process required by the Gender Equality Duty and our own commitment to revise the scheme in light of the priorities of this administration. We will be revising and reporting on our Gender Equality Scheme between December 2007 and March 2008.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive at which meeting of its Cabinet the decision was taken to proceed with the tendering process for ferry services between the mainland and the west coast islands currently provided by CalMac.

Stewart Stevenson: Early in its lifetime, the new administration concluded that the quickest and most effective way of putting in place the contract for the Clyde and Hebrides ferry services that European law required was to complete the tendering process which, by that stage, was at an advanced stage.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether the 624,700 passengers who travelled on the Gourock to Dunoon ferry route in 2005 all qualified for subsidy under European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules.

Stewart Stevenson: Cowal Ferries Ltd, a subsidiary of David MacBrayne Ltd, operates the Gourock-Dunoon ferry service on behalf of the Scottish Government. Subsidy is provided by the Scottish Government to Cowal Ferries Ltd, rather than to individual passengers, to cover the provision of the passenger element of that service. No distinction is drawn between different classes of passengers.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, whether the European Commission has advised that it is inconsistent with European maritime cabotage, state aid and competition rules to have a foot-passenger only public service obligation when the vessel involved also conveys commercial vehicles and private cars and their passengers.

Stewart Stevenson: Discussions between the Scottish Government and the European Commission are generally considered to be confidential. The Scottish Government is currently examining the options that are available for the Gourock to Dunoon route and we shall announce our plans for the service as soon as possible.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, how accounting for the subsidy for this service can be made more transparent in the relevant returns from the operating company and the Executive.

Stewart Stevenson: Further to the restructuring of the former Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd that took effect from 1 October 2006 as part of the preparations for the tendering of Clyde and Hebrides ferry services, I can confirm that David MacBrayne Ltd has established a new subsidiary with separate banking arrangements, Cowal Ferries Ltd, whose sole function is the operation of the Gourock to Dunoon ferry service. That subsidiary has been trading since 1 April 2007 and all subsidy requirements for the passenger only element of that route are payable directly to that company, separate from the subsidy that is payable to CalMac Ferries Ltd under present arrangements. Cowal Ferries Ltd will publish its annual acccounts from 2007-08.

  Financial results for the Gourock to Dunoon service will also be reflected in the David MacBrayne Ltd Annual Accounts and carrying figures will continue to appear in Scottish Transport Statistics, as published annual by the Scottish Executive.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2278 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, how leakage of subsidy from passenger-only customers to those travelling with vehicles is prevented when the vessel involved also conveys commercial vehicles and private cars and their passengers.

Stewart Stevenson: I am satisfied that the vehicle element of the current Cowal Ferries Ltd service on the Gourock to Dunoon route does not generate an additional subsidy requirement. Indeed, the revenue from vehicles carried exceeds the additional costs involved in running a vehicle, as opposed to passenger only service, using the vessels currently deployed on the route.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-2274 by Stewart Stevenson on 7 August 2007, what percentage of passengers using Gourock station are considered, in its interpretation of the HITRANS data, to be users of ferry services; what the evidential basis is for this interpretation, and whether this interpretation has been endorsed by the author of the HITRANS report.

Stewart Stevenson: The HITRANS survey was focussed on ferry users rather than users of Gourock station. It cannot therefore be used, on its own, to derive estimates of the percentage of passengers using Gourock station who are ferry users. It can be used to derive estimates of the percentage of those using the Gourock to Dunoon ferry who arrive at or depart from Gourock by train. On this latter basis, the survey showed that 56 of the 179 passengers interviewed on the Gourock to Dunoon service had used the train to arrive at Gourock or planned to use the train for their onward journey from Gourock. This represents 31% of passengers using the service which is twice the figure used by Western Ferries in preparing the news release it issued on 18 July 2007. This interpretation of the survey results has been endorsed by the author of the HITRANS report.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why the fixed charges imposed by Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd for harbour use are not published and whether this raises any competition issues under European maritime cabotage and competition rules.

Stewart Stevenson: The charges for the use of the harbour facilities owned by Caledonian Maritime Assets are published and are available on request from each harbour office.

Ferry Services

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd has been asked to maximise utilisation of its piers and harbours and, if so, what steps are being taken to achieve this.

Stewart Stevenson: Caledonian Maritime Assets Ltd have been charged with developing the port infrastructure it owns in an efficient, economic and effective manner.

Finance

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication in May 2007 of HM Treasury’s consultation on the distribution of dormant funds, whether it has taken action to ascertain the true value likely to be apportioned for spending in Scotland.

Jim Mather: We are in close discussion with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations about the precise arrangements to be put in place to collect and distribute money in dormant bank accounts. The overall sum likely to be collected is not known with any certainty but we are confident that a fair share will be available to Scotland.

Finance

Gil Paterson (West of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the publication in May 2007 of HM Treasury’s consultation on the distribution of dormant funds, what representations ministers are making to ensure that unclaimed assets identified in Scotland stay in Scotland to the benefit of the community and voluntary sector.

Jim Mather: We are in close discussion with the UK Government and the other devolved administrations about the precise arrangements to be put in place to collect and distribute money in dormant bank accounts. The overall sum likely to be collected is not known with any certainty but we are confident that a fair share will be available to Scotland.

Freight

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to support improvements to rail freight in the north east as a sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport.

Stewart Stevenson: The £4 million gauge enhancement from Mossend to Elgin is reaching completion. As a result larger freight containers will be able to use the route shortly, helping transfer more freight from road to rail.

  We also operate the Freight Facilities Grant and Rail Environmental Benefits Procurement (REPS) Schemes which provide capital and revenue support to rail operations which transfer freight from road to rail. We have recently made an award of REPS support of up to £745,000 over the next three years, to Direct Rail Services for their container service between Aberdeen and Grangemouth. This will remove over 8,000 lorry journeys from the roads of the north east each year.

  We will continue to look at opportunities to assist the industry move from road to rail.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people in Ayrshire and Arran are currently diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.

Shona Robison: The information requested is not available centrally. However, it is estimated that there are around 28 people with Huntington’s disease in Ayrshire and Arran.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been allocated specifically to help people diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.

Shona Robison: Funding of services for individuals with inherited diseases, such as Huntington’s disease is primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to plan, in the light of the needs of their resident population, from the unified budgets which are made available to them from the Scottish Government.

  The Scottish Government, through the section 16b of the voluntary grant scheme, is currently committed to a three year funding scheme with the Scottish Huntington’s Association. The total allocation for the grant is £60,000.

  A review of genetics services in Scotland was published in September 2006 with a commitment of an additional £10 million over two years to assist with its implementation. This will lead to improved services for those with any type of genetic condition, including Huntington’s disease.

Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve services for people diagnosed with Huntington’s disease.

Shona Robison: NHS boards are responsible for meeting the health care needs of those with long term conditions such as Huntington’s. Services for those with inherited diseases, such as Huntington’s disease are primarily the responsibility of NHS boards to plan and to fund, in the light of the needs of their resident population, from the unified budgets which are made available to them from the government

  We are, however, currently seeking NHS boards’ views on a proposal that they should fund 50% of the costs incurred by voluntary organisations in providing services for those with any form of progressive, incurable disease.

  The steering group responsible for implementing the recommendations in the review of genetics services in Scotland, which was published last September, is currently considering a proposal, largely developed by the Scottish Huntington’s Association, looking at the health and social care needs of those with single gene (adult onset) complex disability disorders, of which Huntington’s disease is one. The proposal has two main elements: to develop a strategic approach to the delivery of services through a national needs assessment and a national assessment of quality of life indicators, and the provision of direct support to families living with such disorders, with a focus on providing more support for people in their local communities.

Health

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hours of physical exercise per week it estimates that children had in (a) 1950, (b) 1960, (c) 1970, (d) 1980, (e) 1990 and (f) 2000.

Shona Robison: The 1998 and 2003 Scottish health surveys provide data on the amount of physical activity taken by children aged two to 15 in these years. These findings are summarised (page 99, table 4.1) in the survey report at the link below. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/25145024/50271 .

  No comparable figures are held centrally for earlier years.

Health

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the incidence is of obesity, broken down by age group, and what comparative information it has for (a) the United Kingdom as a whole, (b) each EU member state and (c) each OECD nation.

Shona Robison: (1) Scottish Statistics (including comparisons with English data):

  The most recent obesity statistics for adults in Scotland are available from the Scottish Health Survey 2003. Comparisons with English figures are also available.

  Prevalence of obesity and overweight by age and sex (adults aged 16+ years):

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/25145024/50261. (See Table 5.5 on page 175.) (See Table 5.17 on page 189 for comparison of Scotland and England.).

  Obesity statistics for children are also available from the Scottish Health Survey 2003

  Prevalence of obesity and overweight by age and sex (children aged 2 to 15 years):

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2005/11/25145024/50271. (See Table 5.5 on page 123 for Scottish figures.) (See Table 5.11 on page 127 for comparison of Scotland and England).

  In addition, more recent statistics on obesity in children are available from the Child Health Surveillance Programme. All NHS boards in Scotland are required to provide data for this programme. Data from those boards that record findings using electronic child health systems are available at the following link.

  http://www.isdscotland.org/child_obesity. (Click on "obesity statistics" to access a list of available tables and charts.)

  (2) International comparisons:

  Care should be taken in interpreting international comparisons because of differences in definitions of obesity and in survey methodologies. Some international comparisons subsume Scottish data as part of United Kingdom figures.

  For adults, the OECD health data 2007, reports obesity levels for those aged 15+ years up to 2005:

  http://www.oecd.org/document/16/0,3343,en_2649_37407_2085200_1_1_1_37407,00.html.

  For children, the World Health Organization Health Behaviour of School-aged Children (2001/02), WHO HBSC, report presents obesity levels for young people aged 13 and 15 years:

  http://www.euro.who.int/eprise/main/who/informationsources/publications/catalogue/20040518_1.

  (See Chapter 3, Page 125, Figure 3.3.).

Health

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources are available to assist people who are terminally ill to have a choice of high-quality palliative and end-of-life care.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government believes that palliative care should be available to anyone suffering from any life threatening progressive condition from the time of diagnosis onwards and expects NHS boards to ensure people’s needs are met through a range of services including hospice care. The Gold Standards Framework (Scotland) is being used by GP practices throughout Scotland to improve the care of individuals requiring palliative care in the community. Managed clinical networks, which provide a co-ordinated approach involving the NHS, patient groups, social work, voluntary organisations and other key partners are also being promoted. Funding arrangements for specialist palliative care provided by independent voluntary hospices in Scotland are set out in HDL (2003)18 which is titled - Funding of Specialist Palliative Care Provided by Independent Voluntary Hospices in Scotland , and is available from the following link:

  http://www.show.scot.nhs.uk/sehd/mels/HDL2003_18.pdf.

Health

Elizabeth Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to introduce orthoscopic screening and treatment to all schools.

Shona Robison: NHS health boards in Scotland are in the process of implementing the recommendations in Health for all Children 4: Guidance on Implementation in Scotland that:

  all children should be screened by an orthoptist in their pre-school year, between the ages of four and five years and that once this is in place, vision screening on school entry should cease

  vision screening in secondary school should continue at a single point only, unless already discontinued

  that NHS boards and local authorities should make arrangements for any child undergoing assessment for educational under achievement or other school problems to have a visual acuity check, and

  NHS boards should ensure that vision screening is undertaken in schools for children with hearing impairment.

Health

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what practical measures it will take to reduce the incidence of alcoholic liver disease in West Dunbartonshire to the Scottish average or below.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling alcohol problems in Scotland. Over £10 million was made available to NHS boards in Scotland in 2007-08 specifically to tackle alcohol problems in their area, in addition to their general financial allocations. Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS board was awarded almost £3 million.

  Alcohol and drugs action teams are tasked with the responsibility for the strategic planning and co-ordination of action to tackle alcohol misuse in their area.

  The Scottish Government will continue to take forward the commitments set out in the Updated Plan for Action on Alcohol Problems, but to complement that action, a longer term strategic approach is required if we are to tackle Scotland’s complex relationship with alcohol, and deliver sustainable change in attitudes.

Higher Education

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what contribution students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland make towards Scottish university education and what implications the agreement recently signed with the Northern Ireland administration will have for this

Fiona Hyslop: Students domiciled in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are liable for a tuition fee of £1,735 per year for general degree courses and £2,760 for medical courses. There are currently no plans to change this and no agreement in this area has been signed.

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to widen access to higher education.

Fiona Hyslop: Widening access to lifelong learning is a priority for the Scottish Government. We have already announced the intention to abolish the graduate endowment fee which has helped remove one of the barriers faced by people in deciding whether or not to study at higher education level and we will be considering further measures to remove the debt or fear of debt which is a significant factor in widening access.

  We recognise that that significant activity is already taking place to widening access and that it requires a long term strategy. Accordingly, we will continue to work with the Scottish Funding Council to ensure there is a focus on those activities which are most effective. This will require partnership working with colleges, higher education institutions, the funding council and the four Regional Widening Access Fora.

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what targets it will set to encourage people from deprived areas to enter higher education.

Fiona Hyslop: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-1493 on 24 July 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Scottish students are currently studying at Scottish universities and what targets it has set to increase this number.

Fiona Hyslop: In 2005-06 there were 157,480 Scottish domiciled students at Scottish higher education institutions. In addition, in the same year, there were 13,955 Scottish domiciled students studying at the Open University.

  I have not set any targets as a policy to increase this number.

Higher Education

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what higher education participation rate it believes is necessary to meet the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment of "widening access to higher and further education in Scotland encouraging and creating opportunities for people who may not have been able to access continuing education previously".

Fiona Hyslop: We will continue to take action to promote further and higher education, and have already announced steps to remove the graduate endowment fee so that access to higher education is open to those who have the ability rather than the ability to pay. However, we do not believe it is helpful to express participation in terms of a target rate. Unlike the position in England there has never been a target rate for participation.

Historic Monuments

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-3171 by Linda Fabiani on 27 August 2007, whether the proposed merger of the Royal Commission on Ancient and Historical Monuments (RCAHMS) and Historic Scotland was discussed at the meeting with the Chair and Chief Executive of RCAHMS.

Linda Fabiani: The possible alternatives for a merger involving the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS) formed part of my discussions with the Chair and Chief Executive of RCAHMS on 17 July 2007.

Housing

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it has given to the Glasgow Housing Association to support its antisocial behaviour strategy in each financial year since its inception.

Fergus Ewing: Glasgow Housing Association does not receive any annual grants specifically to support its antisocial behaviour strategy from the government. It does receive an annual repayable grant from the government to support its business plan, which includes the delivery of its antisocial behaviour strategy. Core antisocial behaviour funding is provided to Glasgow City Council to tackle antisocial behaviour across the city, regardless of housing tenure.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet representatives of the Scottish Consumer Council to discuss its Consumer Experiences of Property Management Services study.

Stewart Maxwell: Scottish Government officials have had a number of discussions with representatives of the Scottish Consumer Council about the accreditation of property managers. It is expected that a discussion of the new report, Consumer Experiences of Property Management Services, will take place in the near future.

Housing

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it intends to introduce a national accreditation scheme for property managers.

Stewart Maxwell: We are looking at proposals to take forward a voluntary national accreditation scheme for residential property managers, based on recommendations of the Housing Improvement Task Force and subsequent work. This would involve government expenditure. We will be considering all budget requirements from 2008-09 onwards as part of the spending review.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the practice of placing housing offers subject to survey, which reduces the number of multiple house valuations, negates the need to introduce the single survey.

Stewart Maxwell: The "offers subject to survey" approach helps, in most cases, to address the issue of multiple valuations in the current buying and selling process. However, the approach also reduces the degree of certainty in the transaction process, which has been a key strength of the Scottish house buying and selling process over many years. It is important to consider the balance of arguments between the "offers subject to survey" approach and the single survey in deciding the way ahead.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is concerned that the introduction of the single survey will artificially inflate house prices.

Stewart Maxwell: The published Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Single Survey (page 33) concluded that the provision of Single Survey by sellers would be unlikely to inflate house prices artificially. House prices are more likely to be influenced by macroeconomic factors such as interest rates.

  The partial Regulatory Impact Assessment is available at: http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/cs_014679.hcsp.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that the surveyors undertaking single surveys do not have conflicts of interest.

Mr Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulations which were the subject of recent consultation provide for strict criteria for approved providers and the intention is that they should meet or match the professional standards, liability and redress provided by chartered surveyors. For a buyer to rely on a single survey, the provider’s terms and conditions of contract would have to make suitable provision and if necessary that would be ensured by legislation.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether purchasers’ information packs will be provided free, or at a reduced rate, to sellers on low incomes.

Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulations which were the subject of recent consultation proposed that every seller who marketed their property for sale would be under a duty to provide, upon request, a single survey and a property sale questionnaire, which would form a purchaser’s information pack (PIP). They did not propose that PIPs would be provided free or at a reduced rate to sellers on low incomes, but rather that the market would decide the fees for PIPs.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to institute an expiry time limit on single surveys.

Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulations which were the subject of recent consultation proposed that the single survey should be no more than 12 weeks old when the property was first marketed. However, there was no proposed time limit on the information in the single survey. Rather, it was suggested that this should be a matter for the market, reflecting the need for flexibility to address the circumstances of particular cases.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it will ensure that there are sufficient surveyors able to undertake single surveys when they are introduced.

Stewart Maxwell: Research carried out by Tribal Consulting Limited titled The Potential Impact of the Single Survey on the Property Industry’  examined the ability of the surveying sector in Scotland to handle the increase in demand for surveying services from the introduction of the single survey. The research concluded that the existing capacity of the surveying sector would be sufficient.

  The research report is available at: http://www.communitiesscotland.gov.uk/stellent/groups/public/documents/webpages/pubcs_017893.pdf.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether a seller will be allowed to alter the information contained in a property sales questionnaire once it has been completed.

Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulations which were the subject of recent consultation proposed that a seller would be allowed to alter the information contained in a property sale questionnaire.

Housing

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the specific legal liabilities are for the buyer and seller in relation to property sales questionnaires.

Stewart Maxwell: The draft regulations which were the subject of recent consultation did not include proposals for specific legal liabilities for a buyer or a seller in relation to a property sale questionnaire (PSQ), given that it was expected that PSQs would be referred to by solicitors acting on behalf of buyers in the missives of sale as a matter of conveyancing practice.

Mental Health

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the plans to carry out a review of mental health services in Ayrshire and Arran will be affected or delayed by the need to look again at other aspects of local health care.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action is being taken to review and modernise mental health services in Ayrshire.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve mental health services for young people in Ayrshire.

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what resources will be made available to support the modernisation of mental health services in Ayrshire.

Shona Robison: NHS Ayrshire and Arran are carrying out a review of mental health services in Ayrshire and Arran. I understand that the proposed model for mental health services in Ayrshire and Arran will be presented to the Ayrshire and Arran NHS board in early 2008, seeking approval to proceed with public consultation if necessary.

Migration

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of outward migration was in each year since 1950.

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the level of inward migration was in each year since 1950.

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many of those inwardly migrating in each year since 1980 it estimates originated from (a) the rest of the United Kingdom, (b) the European Union outwith the UK, (c) the Commonwealth outwith the UK and (d) elsewhere.

Jim Mather: Information about migration to and from Scotland between 1975 and 2005, collated by the Office for National Statistics, has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 43467). It shows the number of migrants moving between Scotland and the rest of the UK (table 1) and overseas (table 2). The requested split between migrants originating from the European Union, the Commonwealth and elsewhere is not available.

  Net migration information underlying the General Register Office for Scotland’s mid-year population estimates back to 1951-52 are published on its website but the associated in- and out-flows are not available.

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/annual-report-publications/rgs-annual-review-2006/list-of-figures-chapter-1.html.

Migration

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of those emigrating it estimates was educated to higher education standard in each year since 1980.

Jim Mather: The information requested is not available.

NHS Hospitals

Paul Martin (Glasgow Springburn) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde’s plans to implement car parking charges at Stobhill Hospital.

Nicola Sturgeon: The introduction of car park charging at Stobhill Hospital is a matter for local determination by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in accordance with the current Scottish Government guidance on that subject.

  However, I am currently deciding whether that guidance should be reviewed.

Nurses

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will meet the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to double the number of school nurses.

Shona Robison: We are currently considering how best to increase nursing and other health care capacity in schools.

Nurses

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it will cost to deliver the 2007 SNP manifesto commitment to double the number of school nurses.

Shona Robison: We are currently considering how best to increase nursing and other healthcare capacity in schools. The cost of doing so will depend on the option chosen.

Nutrition

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it recognises the importance of good hydration and supports the World Health Organization’s definition of water as an important nutrient for the human body.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government agrees with the World Health Organization that water is critical to human life.

  In temperate climates, such as the UK, the Food Standards Agency advises that six to eight glasses (about 1.2 litres) of water, or other fluids, should be consumed every day to prevent dehydration. This amount should be increased when the weather is warm or when exercising. Fluid intake is also achieved through food eaten.

Nutrition

John Lamont (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many litres of bottled water it purchased for hospitals and care homes and at what cost in each of the last three years, and what its policy is on the provision of water for staff and visitors.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is not responsible for purchasing for either hospitals or care homes. Responsibility for all procurement for the health service lies with NHS National Services Scotland. In the case of care homes, responsibility lies in the main with individual homes.

  In 2003 NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published Clinical Standards for Food, Fluid and Nutritional Care. These standards state that where clinically appropriate, patients should have access to fresh drinking water at all times. These standards apply to patients only.

  There are currently no national standards which relate to provision of water for staff and visitors. This is a matter for local health boards and care homes.

Palliative Care

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to increase the provision of palliative care.

Shona Robison: The Scottish government has made a clear commitment to ensure that palliative care is available to anyone who needs it and NHS boards have a responsibility to work with the voluntary sector to ensure its availability in accordance with local needs and requirements.

People with Learning Disabilities

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the long-term learning disability services provided in hospitals earmarked for closure will be effectively delivered by newer community-based facilities.

Shona Robison: NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published a national overview in 2006 that reviewed services across the country against four Quality Indicators for Learning Disabilities selected as strongly representative of key elements of hospital closure. These were making sure services are in place to meet people’s needs when hospitals are no longer there; in-patient services for those who need them, and ensuring the transition into the community is planned in partnership with people with learning disabilities, their carers and local communities and involving people in decisions about their lives.

  They found improvements to all of these areas and also set out a number of recommendations for continued improvements to offer better services for children and adults with learning disabilities and their carers.

Planning

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1497 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2007, whether it will provide a breakdown of planning application appeals by local authority area.

Stewart Stevenson: The number of appeals received by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals, broken down by local authority, since 1999 and the subsequent decisions are set out as follows.

  

 
1999-2000
2000-01
2001-02
2002-03


Planning Authority
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W


Aberdeen, City of
39
25
12
2
32
12
17
3
45
22
19
4
25
10
13
2


Aberdeenshire
35
17
12
6
46
31
9
6
79
54
22
3
55
31
16
8


Angus
11
8
1
2
12
8
3
1
7
7
0
0
18
14
3
1


Argyll and Bute
15
5
8
2
15
9
2
2
16
9
6
1
16
11
5
0


City of Edinburgh
72
40
19
13
81
47
25
9
73
35
32
6
94
53
38
3


Cairngorm National Park
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0


Clackmannan
9
3
2
4
6
3
2
1
3
2
0
1
3
2
1
0


Dumfries and Galloway
10
3
5
2
19
13
3
3
9
4
5
0
7
6
1
0


Dundee, City of
23
16
2
5
10
6
3
1
20
11
8
1
18
9
7
2


East Ayrshire
17
10
5
2
11
3
6
2
21
10
5
6
18
12
5
1


East Dunbartonshire
10
1
5
4
20
8
9
3
20
9
8
3
20
12
6
2


East Lothian
14
11
1
2
23
14
5
4
5
4
1
0
17
9
7
1


East Renfrewshire
9
7
2
0
8
6
2
0
15
8
6
1
11
9
1
1


Falkirk
6
2
2
2
16
9
5
2
16
6
9
1
26
13
13
0


Fife
63
35
22
6
50
31
16
3
39
20
16
3
55
37
15
3


Glasgow, City of
23
13
9
1
41
21
13
7
32
18
8
6
33
23
8
2


Highland
27
18
7
2
33
20
11
2
37
26
9
3
33
18
12
3


Inverclyde
8
4
2
2
7
3
4
0
9
5
4
0
9
7
2
0


Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
8
0
0


Midlothian
17
11
3
3
22
15
5
3
10
5
3
2
19
15
1
3


Moray
20
12
8
0
20
17
3
0
10
5
5
0
13
6
5
2


North Ayrshire
7
3
1
3
6
5
1
0
12
8
3
1
14
11
2
1


North Lanarkshire
19
13
3
3
22
7
15
0
20
9
9
2
34
28
2
4


Orkney Islands
3
2
1
0
4
3
1
0
0
0
0
0
5
5
0
0


Perth and Kinross
41
28
10
3
35
22
11
2
31
22
8
0
36
22
12
2


Renfrewshire
32
17
14
1
21
12
6
3
29
15
12
2
32
19
11
2


Scottish Borders
17
11
6
0
26
24
0
2
17
13
3
1
24
13
8
3


Shetland Islands
5
0
5
0
3
2
1
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0


South Ayrshire
27
17
7
3
9
6
3
0
16
12
4
0
15
11
4
0


South Lanarkshire
30
19
10
1
35
21
13
1
21
12
8
1
36
18
15
3


Stirling
21
8
9
4
26
20
5
1
26
18
6
2
15
10
3
2


West Dunbartonshire
10
4
5
1
7
3
2
2
10
9
0
1
7
3
3
1


West Lothian
9
5
2
2
13
9
4
0
24
21
2
1
18
12
5
1


Western Isles
1
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0



  Key:

  R – Received.

  D – Dismissed.

  A – Allowed.

  W – Withdrawn.

  

 
2003-04
2004-05
2005-06
2006-07


Planning Authority
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W
R
D
A
W


Aberdeen, City of
43
21
20
2
29
12
17
0
30
16
11
3
29
17
11
1


Aberdeenshire
46
32
11
3
61
41
15
5
52
30
19
3
64
36
25
3


Angus
11
5
5
1
23
14
9
0
20
14
5
1
25
19
5
1


Argyll and Bute
11
7
4
0
21
18
11
2
31
22
7
2
31
23
7
1


City of Edinburgh
111
71
32
8
111
58
47
6
90
54
33
3
99
66
31
2


Cairngorm National Park
0
0
0
0
2
1
0
1
4
3
0
1
3
0
3
0


Clackmannan
5
2
3
0
3
2
0
1
5
2
3
0
7
5
2
0


Dumfries and Galloway
23
15
6
2
25
17
7
1
38
24
11
3
37
22
14
1


Dundee, City of
12
8
4
0
16
4
9
3
28
5
21
2
36
19
16
1


East Ayrshire
24
11
11
2
13
6
7
0
11
5
6
0
22
13
9
0


East Dunbartonshire
22
20
2
0
23
16
6
1
34
16
17
1
14
8
6
0


East Lothian
12
6
4
2
15
8
4
3
11
4
7
0
14
12
4
0


East Renfrewshire
23
14
5
4
20
10
10
0
32
17
11
4
26
16
10
0


Falkirk
27
5
17
5
23
12
10
1
21
14
7
0
21
17
3
1


Fife
57
40
13
4
54
34
18
2
67
35
31
1
93
53
37
3


Glasgow, City of
30
14
15
1
44
25
17
2
62
30
28
4
65
28
37
0


Highland
45
32
8
5
56
34
20
2
54
31
22
1
64
45
13
6


Inverclyde
13
11
1
1
9
4
5
0
16
6
10
0
10
4
5
1


Loch Lomond and the Trossachs
10
9
0
1
11
5
4
2
11
3
7
1
13
4
7
2


Midlothian
9
3
4
2
14
10
3
1
16
11
5
0
21
11
10
0


Moray
18
8
6
4
29
27
2
0
44
25
16
3
28
23
3
2


North Ayrshire
13
6
4
3
14
7
5
2
18
12
6
0
33
21
12
0


North Lanarkshire
19
10
8
1
31
13
13
5
38
15
21
2
36
21
15
0


Orkney Islands
4
3
1
0
2
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
3
2
1
0


Perth and Kinross
62
39
19
4
83
62
21
0
77
50
25
2
64
33
27
4


Renfrewshire
18
13
4
1
25
11
11
3
31
18
12
1
27
13
14
0


Scottish Borders
30
24
5
1
23
21
2
0
47
34
13
0
39
27
10
2


Shetland Islands
1
0
0
1
4
3
0
1
2
1
1
0
2
1
1
0


South Ayrshire
15
10
3
2
26
13
10
3
32
19
11
2
31
18
11
2


South Lanarkshire
39
28
11
0
34
23
11
0
31
17
13
1
42
32
7
3


Stirling
15
6
7
2
15
6
7
2
16
11
3
2
14
10
4
0


West Dunbartonshire
11
6
3
2
7
4
2
1
11
6
5
0
12
9
2
1


West Lothian
27
19
8
0
26
20
6
0
28
18
10
0
38
19
18
1


Western Isles
0
0
0
0
2
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
2
2
0
0

Planning

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1497 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2007, how many planning application appeals were repeat appeals.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1497 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2007, how many planning application appeals related to green belt.

Margaret Mitchell (Central Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-1497 by Stewart Stevenson on 23 July 2007, how many planning application appeals related to flood plains.

Stewart Stevenson: This information is not held by the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals.

Planning

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers intend to consult on proposals to introduce a planning presumption requiring new buildings in Scotland to include sufficient renewable generation on-site to deliver between 20% and 50% of energy needs, as set out in the 2007 SNP manifesto and, if so, when that consultation will be completed.

Stewart Stevenson: The Executive is committed to increasing the levels of renewable energy generation as it has the potential to provide a sustainable source of low carbon energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions from buildings. It will be part of a coherent approach to energy policy, recognising that promoting reduced energy consumption and promoting low carbon technologies are key to achieving sustainable economic growth. I have started a dialogue with key stakeholders and this will continue so as to ensure a clear and shared strategy and achievement of objectives.

  Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy already sets a target that all future planning applications proposing development with a total cumulative floorspace of 500sq metres or more should incorporate on-site zero and low carbon equipment contributing at least an extra 15% reduction in CO2 emissions beyond the 2007 building regulations CO2 emissions standard. It also says that planning authorities should consider whether local circumstances justify going beyond 15% and whether higher standards can be secured for particular developments. We intend to issue planning advice on implementing the policy in the autumn.

Planning

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many planning applications in the South Lanarkshire Council area were subject to further investigation by the Executive in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006.

Stewart Stevenson: Three applications were called-in by Scottish ministers in 2005 and none in 2006.

Population

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the birth rate was in each year since 1950.

Jim Mather: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Birth Rate Per 1,000 Population, Scotland, 1950-2006

  

1950
18.1
1960
19.6
1970
16.8
1980
13.3
1990
13.0
2000
10.5


1951
17.8
1961
19.5
1971
16.6
1981
13.3
1991
13.2
2001
10.4


1952
17.7
1962
20.1
1972
15.0
1982
12.8
1992
12.9
2002
10.1


1953
17.8
1963
19.7
1973
14.2
1983
12.6
1993
12.4
2003
10.4


1954
18.1
1964
20.0
1974
13.4
1984
12.7
1994
12.1
2004
10.6


1955
18.1
1965
19.3
1975
13.0
1985
13.0
1995
11.8
2005
10.7


1956
18.6
1966
18.6
1976
12.4
1986
12.9
1996
11.6
2006
10.9


1957
19.1
1967
18.5
1977
11.9
1987
13.0
1997
11.7


1958
19.3
1968
18.2
1978
12.3
1988
13.0
1998
11.3


1959
19.2
1969
17.3
1979
13.1
1989
12.5
1999
10.9

Population

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the death rate was in each year since 1950.

Jim Mather: The information requested is given in the following table.

  Death Rate Per 1,000 Population, Scotland, 1950-2006

  

1950
12.5
1960
11.9
1970
12.2
1980
12.2
1990
12.1
2000
11.4


1951
12.9
1961
12.3
1971
11.8
1981
12.3
1991
12.0
2001
11.3


1952
12.1
1962
12.2
1972
12.4
1982
12.6
1992
12.0
2002
11.5


1953
11.5
1963
12.6
1973
12.3
1983
12.3
1993
12.6
2003
11.6


1954
12.0
1964
11.7
1974
12.4
1984
12.1
1994
11.6
2004
11.1


1955
12.1
1965
12.1
1975
12.1
1985
12.5
1995
11.9
2005
10.9


1956
12.1
1966
12.2
1976
12.5
1986
12.4
1996
11.9
2006
10.8


1957
11.9
1967
11.5
1977
11.9
1987
12.2
1997
11.7


1958
12.1
1968
12.2
1978
12.5
1988
12.2
1998
11.7


1959
12.2
1969
12.3
1979
12.6
1989
12.8
1999
11.9

Pre-School Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many pre-school providers are at risk of imminent closure, broken down by (a) local authority and (b) type of provider.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally.

  Statistics on the number of pre-school education providers by local authority and type of providers are available in the pre-school and child care statistics 2006 available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/09/13155926/0.

Pre-School Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate the reasons for pre-school closures and make the findings available to the Parliament.

Mr Adam Ingram: The responsibility for planning and delivering pre-school education lies with local authorities. Authorities need to take population projections into account to ensure that there is enough pre-school education provision available in the right areas. Over time this may involve opening new provision and closing other centres in line with patterns of demand.

  The Scottish government has no plans to undertake an investigation into the reasons for the closure of individual pre-school education settings.

Pre-School Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding each local authority receives from it to provide pre-school services.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish government provides local authorities with block grant for their core revenue services through the core local government finance settlement. A needs-based methodology (otherwise known as grant aided expenditure (GAE)) is used to determine the allocation of that block grant. As GAE is a component used in distributing the total block grant that the Scottish Government provides to local government, it is not a budget or a spending target. It is for each local authority to decide how best to allocate the resulting overall block grant across all their services, based on local needs and priorities.

  The GAE allocations for each local authority for pre-school services in 2007-08 is shown in the following table.

  

Local Authority Area
Nursery Teaching Staff
(£ Million)
Pre-School Education
(£ Million)


Aberdeen City
0.931
6.822


Aberdeenshire
1.281
9.959


Angus
0.563
3.775


Argyll and Bute
0.416
3.069


Clackmannanshire
0.256
1.634


Dumfries and Galloway
0.666
5.319


Dundee City
0.664
4.698


East Ayrshire
0.617
4.031


East Dunbartonshire
0.536
3.291


East Lothian
0.504
3.197


East Renfrewshire
0.506
3.175


Edinburgh, City of
2.045
13.686


Eilean Siar
0.121
1.051


Falkirk
0.788
4.980


Fife
1.897
11.896


Glasgow City
2.913
19.259


Highland
1.080
8.649


Inverclyde
0.402
2.773


Midlothian
0.457
3.016


Moray
0.441
3.249


North Ayrshire
0.727
4.556


North Lanarkshire
1.893
11.575


Orkney
0.087
0.764


Perth and Kinross
0.719
5.307


Renfrewshire
0.924
5.795


Scottish Borders
0.597
4.606


Shetland
0.119
1.157


South Ayrshire
0.521
3.271


South Lanarkshire
1.595
10.002


Stirling
0.461
3.326


West Dunbartonshire
0.472
3.018


West Lothian
1.015
6.303


Scotland
26.215
177.195



  In addition there are other relevant GAE allocations which go wider than pre-school services. These include Sure Start (£59.912 million), special education (£272.688 million) and childcare strategy (£44.556 million).

Pre-School Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much each local authority spends per child on pre-school provision.

Adam Ingram: Statistics on local authority spend are not collected on a per child basis. The pre-primary education expenditure figures for 2005-06 (the latest year for which figures are available) are provided in the following table. Pre-primary education expenditure includes expenditure on nursery schools, other under 5s expenditure not located in primary schools or special schools, childcare services and registration services.

  Pre-Primary Education Expenditure 2005-06 (£000)

  

Local Authority Area
Gross
Net


Scotland
284,484
267,174


Aberdeen City
8,689
8,608


Aberdeenshire
9,661
9,623


Angus
4,706
4,602


Argyll and Bute
5,252
4,854


Clackmannanshire
3,563
2,900


Dumfries and Galloway
7,592
7,389


Dundee City
8,077
7,384


East Ayrshire
8,824
7,905


East Dunbartonshire
4,776
4,251


East Lothian
5,053
4,472


East Renfrewshire
6,346
5,693


Edinburgh, City of
20,793
19,179


Eilean Siar
1,587
1,474


Falkirk
8,405
7,269


Fife
16,265
15,777


Glasgow City
45,061
43,826


Highland
11,478
9,766


Inverclyde
5,224
5,004


Midlothian
4,855
4,547


Moray
4,035
3,899


North Ayrshire
6,951
6,750


North Lanarkshire
18,916
18,023


Orkney Islands
801
801


Perth and Kinross
5,380
5,155


Renfrewshire
12,625
12,054


Scottish Borders
4,767
4,519


Shetland Islands
1,365
1,329


South Ayrshire
5,403
5,157


South Lanarkshire
13,391
12,191


Stirling
5,934
5,472


West Dunbartonshire
8,255
7,630


West Lothian
10,454
9,671



  Source: LFR 1 (Education) returns.

  Note: Gross expenditure is the total expenditure. Net expenditure is the gross expenditure minus any income, for example from grants, fees or charges.

Pre-School Education

Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the cost per head of pre-school provision is in each local authority in respect of (a) education and (b) child care services.

Adam Ingram: The information requested is not held centrally. I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-3570 on 6 September 2007 for information on local authority pre-primary education expenditure. It is not possible to split these data between education and child care services.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Prison Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the prisoner capacity is at HM Prison Inverness.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The design capacity of HM Prison Inverness is 104 and it is contracted to provide 150 prisoner places.

Prison Service

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many prisoners are held in HM Prison Inverness.

Kenny MacAskill: I have asked Mike Ewart, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  As at 4 September 2007, there were 136 prisoners in HM Prison Inverness.

Public Sector

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers have a view of the desirable size of the Scottish public sector and what steps they will take to reach this target.

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether ministers consider that public sector investment can crowd out investment by the private sector and what impact this has on policy.

John Swinney: The Scottish Government believes that Scotland’s economic success must be a partnership between the private, public and third sectors, with the private sector the principal driver of growth. The debate about the size of the public sector in Scotland to date has been influenced by figures which exclude a proportion of Scottish economic activity relating to the Scottish sector of the UK Continental Shelf and the government believes that this issue must be seen within the context of an actual public sector size that is estimated to be comparable to the UK average when the whole of the Scottish economy is included .

  The government is taking action to ensure that the public sector delivers more effectively with resources directed more towards frontline services in health, education and community safety, all of which contribute to Scotland’s potential for greater economic success and we are also taking forward measures to improve the competitive environment for Scottish business through lower business taxes, lighter and more effective regulation and a greater focus for national enterprise activity.

  The government believes that this balanced approach will ensure that the public sector compliments the private and third sectors and that public spending does more to help generate private sector growth. Within this context our action to simplify and de-clutter the public sector landscape will play an important role in raising Scotland’s overall economic growth rate.

Qualifications

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what its response is to members of the business community, including small businesses, who find it difficult to assess the qualifications held by migrant workers who do not have UK qualifications or whose home country qualifications are not easily understood or recognised in the United Kingdom.

Jim Mather: Careers Scotland in the Highlands and Islands area are working with the National Academic Recognition Information Centre (NARIC) to develop a service which will provide guidance to individuals and employers on matching qualifications. They intend to publicise this service in due course, once initial testing is complete.

  In November last year the Relocation Advisory Service (RAS) engaged with the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) and learned of the latter’s recent research into qualifications from Poland. SQA informed RAS that this was in response to a growing demand from employers for a tool that would provide a basic understanding of the the typical qualifications being presented by the large number of Polish nationals seeking employment in Scotland.

  With the SQA’s permission and input, RAS put information relating to this work on the business section of Fresh Talent’s main website www.scotlandistheplace.com. There are also links to the various international elements of the SQA’s work. RAS is also in regular contact with the SQA and would be keen to highlight any future work of the latter which could prove useful to the Scottish business community.

Qualifications

Jamie McGrigor (Highlands and Islands) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with members of the business community, including small businesses, in respect of difficulties that they experience in assessing the qualifications held by migrant workers who do not have UK qualifications or whose home country qualifications are not easily understood or recognised in the United Kingdom.

Jim Mather: As part of the Scottish Government’s Fresh Talent initiative the Relocation Advisory Service’s (RAS) business team is in regular contact with Scottish employers and their representatives, providing advice on employing migrant workers through its website, presentations, e-newsletters etc. The issue of comparing non-UK qualifications with potential Scottish counterparts has not been perceived as a significant difficulty in correspondence and meetings with employers.

Racism

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between May and July 2007 on publicising its anti-racist strategy.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much is proposed to be spent between August and December 2007 on publicising its anti-racist strategy.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent between August and December 2006 on publicising the previous administration’s anti-racist strategy.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government is committed to tackling racism, promoting race equality and good race relations. A wide programme of work is underway which supports this commitment, including the development of a National Strategy and Action Plan on Race Equality, and the further development of One Scotland Many Cultures Campaign.

  The strategy is not yet published and therefore it has not been publicised as such. However, just over £4,000 was spent on expenses relating to a consultation event on the draft strategy in December 2006. We are further developing the Strategy and will consult on it in the autumn.

  Between August and December 2006, and May and July 2007, there was no spend on media advertising for the One Scotland anti-racism campaign. We are, however, very keen to continue with and develop the campaign and are currently in the planning and development stage. It is not therefore possible at this time to give an indication of proposed spend between August and December 2007.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what improvements it has planned to reduce journey times on the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street route and what the timescales are for such improvements.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what estimate it has made of the cost and timescale of electrifying the Edinburgh to Glasgow Queen Street route and when it expects to make a final decision on the matter.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland is leading work to provide firm proposals for the most cost-effective ways to improve reliability, bring down journey times and provide capacity for the expected continuing growth in rail passenger numbers between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Electrification is one possible option for achieving this and the costs, risks and timescales of such a project will be considered in the wider context of the above service improvements. The results of this will be reported in September and will be considered as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

Rail Network

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scottish Water has indicated any possible difficulties in providing water and sewerage connections to the new houses in the Scottish Borders referred to in the Waverley railway project business case and what the projected costs would be of providing the necessary connections.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Water is fully funded to provide the strategic infrastructure required for all anticipated new development during the current investment period.

  The Provision of Water and Sewerage Services (Reasonable Cost) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 introduced a legal basis for the calculation of the reasonable cost contribution to be made by Scottish Water and developers towards the cost of providing local "Part 2" and "Part 3" connections to its networks. Scottish Water will provide a reasonable cost contribution towards the developers’ costs of funding "Part 2" and "Part 3" infrastructure. This reasonable cost contribution to new connections is available towards the total costs of both local water mains and sewers, and all other "Part 2" and "Part 3" assets.

  The projected costs for providing the necessary connections will depend on the timing of the house building construction programme and the contribution to be made to such connections by the relevant developers.

Rail Network

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the plans to procure the rolling stock for both the Airdrie to Bathgate rail line and the Glasgow Airport Rail Link, both due for completion in 2010, will place undue demand on the supply of rolling stock and whether, in the context of higher demand, the projected cost of between £300 and £375 million remains the same.

Stewart Stevenson: The rolling stock procurement plan continues to be developed by Transport Scotland alongside the wider procurement plan to address the requirements of both the Major Projects, including Airdrie to Bathgate, and the increasing demands for rail services. Transport Scotland is confident that it can successfully procure the rolling stock needed to continue growing Scotland’s railways, and the procurement plan is on schedule to meet the delivery deadline for the Airdrie to Bathgate project of December 2010.

  The procurement of rolling stock for the Airdrie to Bathgate project is an operating rather than capital cost, and therefore has no impact on the £300 to £375 million capital cost projection for the Airdrie to Bathgate project.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Rail Network

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the electrification of the east coast main line between Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

Stewart Stevenson: The rail policy document Scotland’s Railways  sets out how we aspire to improve capacity, reliability and journey times on the route southwards from Aberdeen. This includes, in the long-term, exploring the possible value of electrification of this route.

Rail Network

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to reduce rail journey times between Scottish cities.

Stewart Stevenson: We are proposing several investments to reduce rail journey times between Scottish cities that we aim to take forward as resources become available, for example:

  Glasgow to Edinburgh - I have asked Transport Scotland to assess options for improving journey times between Glasgow and Edinburgh, including electrification. The results of this will be reported in September, as part of the Strategic Transport Projects Review.

  Inverness to Edinburgh/Glasgow – Implement timetable changes, infrastructure and introduce new rolling stock to reduce journey times by around 40 to 45 minutes, as recommended in the "Highland Room for Growth" study.

  Aberdeen and Dundee to Edinburgh – Timetable changes to reduce journey times by around 15 minutes, by introducing additional express services.

Rail Network

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff at Transport Initiatives Edinburgh were working on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project prior to the current suspension of active work on the project.

Stewart Stevenson: Twelve staff at TIE Ltd were working on EARL prior to the current suspension of avoidable work.

Rail Network

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it has given Transport Initiatives Edinburgh regarding the future of the Edinburgh Airport Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland instructed Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd on 4 July 2007 that no more money should be spent on the EARL project than is strictly unavoidable during the current review of its governance and future.

Rail Network

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions it has given Transport Initiatives Edinburgh in order to resolve the governance issues with the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project as identified by the Auditor General for Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Initiatives Edinburgh has been asked to provide information about Edinburgh Airport Rail Link and has engaged in discussions with the Scottish Government that contribute to the review of governance arrangements.

Rail Network

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with parties involved in the governance of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: In addition to a number of discussions held with Transport Initiatives Edinburgh ltd., separate meetings have been held by John Swinney MSP and Malcolm Reed (Transport Scotland) with BAA Ltd and Network Rail.

Rail Network

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will report to the Parliament on the outcome of its discussions with parties involved in the governance of the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: The results of the Governance Review on EARL will be presented to Parliament before the end of September 2007.

Regeneration

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to sustain the capital investment in Dundee’s central waterfront project in the event of the closure of the Cities Growth Fund.

John Swinney: I recognise the importance of the regeneration of Dundee’s central waterfront for the development of Dundee and the surrounding region.

  The outcome of the Spending Review will be announced in the autumn and any speculation about the future of the Cities Growth Fund is premature in advance of that announcement. It is, however, for Dundee City Council to manage and fund its capital investment programme.

Renewable Energy

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-940 by Jim Mather on 21 June 2007, when it now expects ministers to reach and issue a decision on the Clyde wind farm application.

Jim Mather: The application is currently being considered and a decision will be made after careful and thorough consideration of all material issues, in accordance with the relevant legislative and planning obligations. Details of the decision will be placed on the Executive’s Energy Consents website.

Renewable Energy

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what the timetable is for decisions to be made on each wind farm proposal that has been referred to ministers through public inquiries or under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989.

Jim Mather: Under Section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989, Scottish ministers are responsible for the granting or refusal of applications for consent for electricity generation. There is no published timetable set for Scottish ministers to make these decisions, however, they are required by legislation to be satisfied that they have considered all relevant factors before taking their decision.

  For applications made under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, local authorities decide the vast majority of planning applications. Scottish ministers have a general power to intervene by calling in applications for their own determination where they consider such action necessary. Where a planning application has been called in and a report is returned to Planning Directorate, following a public local inquiry, Scottish ministers’ published targets are to provide a decision on 80% of applications in two months and 100% of applications in three months.

Renewable Energy

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the anticipated costs are of a public local inquiry into the North Harris Community wind farm application.

Stewart Stevenson: This application has not yet been passed to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals to make arrangements for a public local inquiry. It is not therefore possible, at this stage, to estimate what the anticipated costs will be.

Renewable Energy

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive who will meet the costs of the proposed public local inquiry into the North Harris Community wind farm application.

Stewart Stevenson: This application has not yet been passed to the Directorate for Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) to make arrangements for a public local inquiry. Parties to an inquiry are expected to meet their own costs. DPEA, as part of the Scottish Government, will meet the cost of the reporter allocated to hear the arguments, together with the administration costs of setting up the inquiry including the hire of the venue and newspaper advertisement of the inquiry arrangements.

Renewable Energy

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what definition exists in the planning process of community renewable schemes as opposed to other renewable schemes.

Stewart Stevenson: Scottish Planning Policy (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy states that there is potential for communities to develop their own local projects for local benefits but "community renewable schemes" is not specifically defined. The use of the term by planning authorities is a matter for them.

Renewable Energy

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it believes that there would be any merit in drawing a clearer distinction between community and other wind farm applications in terms of the planning process.

Stewart Stevenson: The Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 provides that all planning applications have to be determined in accord with the development plan unless material considerations indicate otherwise. It is for the planning authority or other decision maker to decide whether a community’s views are a material consideration and if so the weight to accord them in the determination. Scottish Planning Policy - (SPP) 6 Renewable Energy says that planning authorities should include in their development plans positive policies which support smaller scale renewables such as community projects, to enable communities to develop such initiatives in an environmentally acceptable manner.

Renewable Energy

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it is committed to removing any planning obstacles that stand in the way of micro-generation and, if so, how and when it will do so.

Stewart Stevenson: The government intends to consult in the autumn on extending permitted development rights to micro-renewable equipment.

Renewable Energy

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the generating capacity was of onshore wind power projects awaiting consent or a decision of any other kind by ministers on 14 August 2007.

Jim Mather: On 14 August 2007, applications with a potential generating capacity of 4.787giga watts of onshore wind capacity were being processed for determination in due course by Scottish ministers.

Road Accidents

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the top 10 road accident blackspots are in (a) Edinburgh and the Lothians, (b) Glasgow, (c) Strathclyde, (d) Tayside, (e) Stirlingshire, (f) Perthshire, (g) north-east Scotland, (h) Highland and (i) Eilean Siar, Orkney and Shetland.

Stewart Stevenson: The information requested is not available centrally.

  Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the Stats 19 statistical report form. Statistics relating to road accidents and casualties by local authority and police force area are published annually in Road Accidents Scotland.

  The road accident statistics system is designed to produce such information, but not to identify accident "blackspots".

  Details of accidents on the trunk road network are held by Transport Scotland on a special database which can be interrogated to identify a range of details including cluster sites and trends. Local authorities have detailed information about accidents on local roads which enables them to identify clusters of accidents at particular locations.

Road Accidents

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents have taken place in each year since 1999 involving foreign motorists.

Stewart Stevenson: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police. The returns do not cover damage only accidents or accidents of which the police are unaware because they were not reported by the public.

  The specification of the STATS 19 returns includes a code which the police can use to identify as non-UK residents any drivers or riders, of vehicles involved in reported accidents, whose homes are outwith the UK. However, this information is not available in all cases - for example, the police will have no knowledge of the areas of residence of hit-and-run drivers. The true number of foreign motorists involved in accidents will therefore be higher than would appear from the STATS 19 data, and the true number of accidents involving foreign motorists will therefore be higher than the figures given in the following table. In addition, it should be noted that several changes were made to the STATS 19 specification with effect from the start of 1999, including the introduction of the code which is used to identify drivers or riders who are non-UK residents. As some police forces’ returns for 1999 were affected by difficulties connected with the implementation of the new specification, the figure for 1999 is lower than it should have been .

  Reported Injury Road Accidents which Involved Motor Vehicle Drivers or Riders who were Coded in the STATS 19 Returns as being Non-UK Residents

  

Year
Accidents


1999
84


2000
133


2001
126


2002
104


2003
103


2004
105


2005
116


2006
97

Road Accidents

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive for how many road traffic accidents foreign motorists were deemed to be responsible in each year since 1999.

Stewart Stevenson: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police. The returns do not cover damage only accidents or accidents of which the police are unaware because they were not reported by the public.

  The specification of the STATS 19 returns includes a code which the police can use to identify as non-UK residents any drivers or riders, of vehicles involved in reported accidents, whose homes are outwith the UK. However, this information is not available in all cases - for example, the police will have no knowledge of the areas of residence of hit-and-run drivers. The true number of foreign motorists involved in accidents will therefore be higher than would appear from the STATS 19 data, and the true number of accidents involving foreign motorists will therefore be higher than the figures given in the following table.

  Statistics about the factors which may have contributed to the occurrence of an accident are only available with effect from the start of 2005, when the STATS 19 specification was expanded to include such information. It must be emphasised that the Contributory Factors shown in the returns reflect the reporting officer’s opinion at the time of making the report, and are not necessarily the result of extensive investigation: subsequent enquiries could lead to a change in the opinion of the reporting officer. The factors are largely subjective, and depend upon the skill and experience of the reporting officer in reconstructing the events which led directly to the accident, based upon the information available at the time of making the report.

  In the case of many accidents, Contributory Factors are recorded for more than one of the parties involved in the accident. For example, in the reporting officer’s view, one driver may have been "travelling too fast for the conditions", another may have been "impaired by alcohol", and a pedestrian may have "failed to look properly" - if so, the STATS 19 returns will show Contributory Factors for three of the parties involved in the accident. In such a case, the returns do not identify one participant as "responsible", since it appears more than one person’s actions (or lack of action) contributed to the occurrence of the accident. However, if Contributory Factors are recorded for only one participant, it would appear that the reporting officer’s view is that that particular person was responsible for the accident. The following table therefore distinguishes between:

  (a) accidents for which all the Contributory Factors were recorded for non-UK resident motorists, as they may be regarded as responsible for such accidents;

  (b) accidents for which some of the Contributory Factors were recorded for non-UK resident motorists, and other Contributory Factors were recorded for other participants (such as UK motorists, cyclists and pedestrians), as it appears that, in each such case, responsibility should be split between the non-UK motorist(s) and one or more of the other participants in the accident, and

  (c) accidents for which none of the Contributory Factors were recorded for non-UK resident motorists, as it appears that they were not responsible for such accidents.

  (Contributory Factors were recorded for all of the reported accidents involving non-UK resident motorists in 2005 and 2006.)

  More information about Contributory Factors is given in an article on pages 53 to 74 of Road Accidents Scotland 2005, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41118).

  Reported Injury Road Accidents in Scotland which Involved Motor Vehicle Drivers or Riders who were Coded in the STATS 19 Returns as being Non-UK Residents

  

Year
All of the Contributory Factors Recorded were for Non-UK Motorists
Some of the Contributory Factors Recorded were for Non-UK Motorists
None of the Contributory Factors Recorded were for Non-UK Motorists
Total All Such Accidents


2005
79
10
27
116


2006
66
14
17
97

Road Accidents

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what measures it is taking to ensure that foreign motorists are adequately informed of motoring rules and regulations in Scotland.

Stewart Stevenson: Road Safety Scotland, funded by the Scottish Government, produces a multilingual leaflet for foreign visitors, which provide advice on how to drive safely on Scotland’s roads. A new series of leaflets, aimed particularly at migrant workers, was issued in April this year. These leaflets, which are available in Polish, Lithuanian, Russian and French, provide detailed information about legal requirements for driving such as driver and vehicle licensing, insurance, speed limits and the law on drink driving.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public money has been spent on purchasing land and property in preparation for the building of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Stewart Stevenson: To date, £1.69 million has been spent purchasing two residential properties.

Roads

Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to ask a body independent of Transport Scotland, such as Audit Scotland, to carry out reviews of the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route project and the M74 extension.

Stewart Stevenson: There is no specific review planned for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route or the M74 extension project.

  Transport Scotland continues to monitor all projects to ensure proper financial control and management as well as to deliver value for money for Scottish taxpayers. That is part of the normal natural and necessary business of good government.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when motorists will be able to use the road following the construction of the M74 completion project.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-63 on 1 June 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether any additional overtaking lanes are planned for the A82 in advance of any announcement in summer 2008 about the next stage of strategic transport developments.

Stewart Stevenson: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-2790 on 23 August 2007. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether potential land acquisition and compensation issues associated with the (a) M74 extension and (b) Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route have been fully scoped and, if so, what conclusions have been arrived at.

Stewart Stevenson: We have secured the powers through the Compulsory Purchase Order, which was made on 24 March 2005, to acquire all of the land for the M74 Completion scheme. Acquisition of that land is almost complete. Compensation has been paid in the majority of cases.

  Land required for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route will be identified in the draft Compulsory Purchase Order which is due to be published within the next two months. Individual compensation payments are not known but will be assessed by the Valuation Office Agency in due course. An allowance for the purchase of land and associated compensation has been included in the overall project estimate.

Roads

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the start date for the upgrade work to the A9 Ballinluig junction was moved as a result of either the outcome of the Parliament elections in May 2007 or of the subsequent formation of the new Scottish Executive.

Stewart Stevenson: The government attaches the highest importance to taking the earliest steps to upgrade the A9 Ballinluig junction.

Roads

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-95 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what actions it plans to take to achieve fuller utilisation of the current rail and road networks.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the delivery of our current committed programme of major and important trunk road and rail infrastructure improvements can be found on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk . Future transport investment priorities will be considered by the multi-modal Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is undertaking an objective, evidence-based, review of the existing performance and future requirements of the nationally strategic transport networks. This will include better utilisation of the rail and road networks.

  In addition, the High Level Output Specification (HLOS) for 2009-14 sets out future requirements for more efficient working of the rail network. With growing demand for rail travel, it is anticipated that there will be a continuing requirement for improvements to rail services, including increased capacity and performance. A range of priority areas are identified within the HLOS and efficiency savings will be used to support their delivery.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted if required.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve capacity and journey times on the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead.

Stewart Stevenson: Current work to complete dualling of the A90 between Aberdeen and Ellon is anticipated to be completed in 2012.

  The Strategic Transport Projects Review will examine Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network, including the A90 between Ellon and Peterhead, and report in 2008.

  The government expects this to identify priorities for this section of the A90.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve capacity and journey times on the A96 west of Inverurie.

Stewart Stevenson: The next round of major investment in the trunk road network will emerge from the Strategic Transport Projects Review, which will examine the longer term needs of Scotland’s nationally strategic transport network and report in 2008.

  The outcome of the recently completed Aberdeen to Inverness Transport Corridor Study will feed directly into this review which will consider future investment priorities.

  The government expects this to identify priorities for the A96.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to upgrade the A90/A96 Haudagain junction.

Stewart Stevenson: A Steering Group made up of the Scottish Executive’s transport agency, Transport Scotland together with Aberdeen City Council and NESTRANS (North East of Scotland Transport Partnership) are taking forward a STAG assessment of the Haudagain Roundabout with a view to identify suitable options to alleviate identified problems at this junction.

Roads

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to address capacity constraints at trunk and local road junctions serving towns and villages across Aberdeenshire.

Stewart Stevenson: The Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which will report in 2008, will identify a programme of interventions that will make a significant contribution towards improved journey times and connections, improving reliability and reducing emissions.

  Any potential improvements to the nationally strategic transport networks in Aberdeenshire will be considered on their merits within the STPR.

Roads

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many road traffic accidents have taken place in each year since 1999 on the (a) A835, (b) A836, (c) A837, (d) A894, (e) A897 and (f) A9 north of the Dornoch Firth bridge.

Stewart Stevenson: Data about injury road accidents are collected by the police and reported to the Scottish Executive using the STATS 19 statistical report form. These returns cover only road accidents in which one or more people were injured and which become known to the police. The returns do not cover damage only accidents or accidents of which the police are unaware because they were not reported by the public.

  The following table gives the total number of reported injury road accidents which were identified in the STATS 19 returns as occurring on the A835, A836, A837, A894, A897 and A9 (North of the Dornoch Bridge Roundabout) between 1999 and 2006.

  It should be noted that the statistics given as follows are based upon the data which are held in the central statistical database and which were collected by the police at the time of the accident and subsequently reported to the Executive. They may differ from any figures which the local authority would provide now, because they do not take account of any subsequent changes or corrections that local authorities may have made to the statistical information, for use at local level, about the location of each accident, based upon their knowledge of the roads and areas concerned.

  Reported Injury Road Accidents on the A835, A836, A837, A894, A897 and A9 (North of the Dornoch Bridge Roundabout)

  

Road
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006


A835
24
16
24
17
18
27
23
17


A836
15
24
16
18
19
20
19
19


A837
1
4
1
3
5
0
2
1


A894
4
2
2
0
2
4
1
3


A897
2
1
2
0
0
2
1
0


A9 North of the Dornoch Bridge Roundabout
20
25
36
33
34
28
34
38

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-2913 and S3W-2914 on 20 August 2007 and to question S3W-2129 on 9 August 2007 by Adam Ingram, how many pupils in each pilot school could be entitled to free school meals, given the current data available, who were not previously so entitled.

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of school pupils involved in the free school meals pilot it expects, based on the data currently available, will be entitled to free school meals who were previously not so entitled, broken down by local authority area.

Adam Ingram: We have had no reason to calculate these figures. The most recent school meals data, including the number of pupils previously entitled to free school meals, is available on the Scottish Executive website at: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/School-Education/SchMeals2007 .

School Meals

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S3W-2128 and S3W-2129 by Adam Ingram on 9 August 2007, when it will be able to indicate (a) how many children will be involved in the pilot, as distinct from how many could be involved, and (b) how many of those children will be entitled to free school meals who would not previously have been so entitled.

Adam Ingram: We will get a snap-shot figure of how many took a meal, and whether or not they were previously eligible for school meals, on a date at the end of February. These figures will be available next summer when the report on the evaluation of the trial is published.

Scottish Executive Buildings

Iain Gray (East Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to roll out micro-renewables to government buildings and hospitals.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Executive is currently working in partnership with the Carbon Trust through its Carbon Management Programme to establish the feasibility of installing micro-renewables at selected buildings on its core estate. Initial surveys have been completed for a number of buildings, including Saughton House in Edinburgh, Cameron House in Oban and Strathearn House in Perth. These have highlighted a number of opportunities that are to be investigated further.

  The Scottish Executive does not currently have a specific plan to roll out micro-renewables in hospitals as energy procurement is devolved to NHS boards. However, the Scottish Executive Health Directorates Environmental Management Policy for NHSScotland advises NHS boards that combined heat and power and renewable technologies should be considered in new build and refurbishment projects, where feasible and, that in general, energy should be procured from renewable sources, where practicable and feasible.

  This policy document is available at http://www.sehd.scot.nhs.uk/mels/hdl2006_21.pdf.

  NHSScotland bodies are already investigating the use of microrenewables and other energy saving initiatives. Some of this work is being carried out through the Carbon Trust’s "Partnerships for Renewables" initiative which assists the public sector to develop on-site renewables projects. For example, NHS Ayrshire and Arran has utilised this to facilitate the installation of a wind generation facility at Crosshouse Hospital.

Scottish Water

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many miles of asbestos mains water pipes there are in each local authority area and how high a priority it is that these are replaced.

Stewart Stevenson: As this is an operational matter for the Scottish Water, I have asked the chief executive to reply to your enquiry directly.

Sexual Health

Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve access to independent information on sexual health.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government has appointed independent researchers from the University of Abertay to undertake a stock taking review of Respect and Responsibility, Scotland’s National Sexual Health Strategy. The review will seek to identify any gaps in the implementation of the strategy and in services, which we will address following its recommendations in spring 2008.

Sexual Offences

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive why only 3.9% of sexual assault cases result in a conviction for the offender and what measures it will take to ensure that more sex offenders are convicted.

Kenny MacAskill: The available statistics on court proceedings and recorded crime cannot be combined in any meaningful way to derive rates of conviction. However, the available statistics do illustrate that the conviction rate for rape, in particular, is very low.

  The prosecution of rape presents a particular challenge. It can be very difficult to obtain corroborated evidence to convince a jury of the accused’s guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecutors cannot raise proceedings where there is insufficient evidence in law to do so. In cases where the accused does not deny the act of sexual intercourse but maintains that the complainer consented, the trial may focus entirely on the question of whether the complainer consented to sexual intercourse with the accused.

  The Scottish Government is committed to addressing the low conviction rate for rape and serious sexual offences. It is clearly very important to have a robust legal framework that reflects the values of modern society. That is why we have announced that we will introduce a Bill on rape and sexual offences in the light of the Scottish Law Commission’s forthcoming report.

  It is equally important that we ensure that cases are handled as effectively as possible. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service’s Review of the Investigation and Prosecution of Rape and Sexual Offences recommended improved specialist training and guidance to prosecutors. The implementation programme is well underway with 18 recommendations having been implemented and work ongoing towards full implementation by June 2009.

Sport

Alison McInnes (North East Scotland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will reconsider its opposition to current proposals to build a 50-metre swimming pool in Aberdeen.

Stewart Maxwell: The Scottish Government does not oppose the proposal to build a 50 metre swimming pool in Aberdeen. We recognise that a 50-metre pool in the north-east of Scotland could make a significant contribution to the local community as well as providing training facilities for talented athletes.

Sport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will publish the minutes of the Performance Sports Summit held on 23 August 2007 in Stirling Management Centre.

Stewart Maxwell: Notes of all the key discussion points were taken at each workshop as well as the themes emerging in plenary session. These will be made available in due course.

Sport

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive which athletes were invited to the Performance Sports Summit held on 23 August 2007 in Stirling Management Centre and which attended.

Stewart Maxwell: No athletes were invited to the Performance Sports Summit. However, a number of Scottish sports governing bodies were invited to the event and they represented the views of their athletes. In addition, national sports agencies also attended who were able to give an athlete perspective.

Suicide

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to reduce the suicide rate, particularly among men aged between 15 and 44.

Shona Robison: Suicide prevention is a key aim of the Scottish Government’s action to improve mental health and wellbeing. The main delivery vehicle for this is Choose Life, the National Strategy and Action Plan to Prevent Suicide. One of the priority groups for action is young people, especially young men. Through Choose Life there is now an identified suicide prevention coordinator in every local authority area in Scotland, targeting suicide prevention action in ways tailored to local needs and circumstances.

  Nationally, through Choose Life we have introduced suicide prevention training, which is being rolled out across Scotland. Over 11,500 people in community and public service settings have been trained in suicide intervention and risk management skills in the last three years. We are also developing suicide prevention training and risk assessment training for frontline staff in mental health services, in primary care and in accident and emergency services.

  On 10 September 2007 I launched Choose Life’s latest phase of campaign activity, "Talk. Listen. Save a Life." This awareness-raising action highlights the importance of encouraging people to be more open about their and other people’s feelings and worries.

  The Breathing Space telephone advice line helps to underpin related action on suicide prevention. Open from 6pm to 2am nightly, Breathing Space provides free and confidential advice and signposting to people experiencing low mood, depression and anxiety. It is available to all but is particularly targeted at young men because of the increases in suicide numbers in this group in recent decades. Breathing Space currently handles around 3,000 calls per month and is currently undergoing a pilot extension of its opening hours to 6am at weekends.

  Annual fluctuations occur in suicide rates. When assessing trends, three year rolling averages are used because they smooth out some of the fluctuations. It is encouraging to note that from 2000-02 to 2004-06 there was a downward trend of 13% for population suicides. Within this, there was a 14% reduction in male suicides and a 9% reduction in female suicides.

Teachers

Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list all meetings between COSLA and ministers specifically to discuss the employment of probationary teachers since 17 May 2007.

Maureen Watt: Ministers have not held any meetings with COSLA specifically to discuss the employment of post probation teachers. Discussions with COSLA about budgets and outcomes are on-going.

Tourism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much public funding VisitScotland.com (eTourism Ltd) has received for each year since 2002.

Jim Mather: eTourism Ltd, trading as visitscotland.com, was established in 2002 as a Public Private partnership joint venture company, with total funding of £7.5 million being provided by its shareholders including VisitScotland. One quarter of the funding, or £1.875 million, was provided by the Scottish Government through VisitScotland as an interest bearing loan, on the condition that it will be repaid when visitscotland.com is trading profitably. No other public funds have been provided to visitscotland.com since then.

Tourism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many members have left visitscotland.com in each year since 2002.

Jim Mather: Visitscotland.com is not a member organisation, but a commercial enterprise set up to provide Scottish tourism businesses and accommodation providers a route to the quickly expanding sector of the market which wishes to use the internet to research and book holidays online. Since its launch in 2002, visitscotland.com has built up around 11,500 business subscribers, about 85% of which are small businesses such as B&Bs, guest houses and self caterers. Many of these receive very significant numbers of their bookings through visitscotland.com.

  Annual figures for the numbers of businesses which have ceased subscribing to visitscotland.com are not currently available because of the introduction of new software. However, the number of accommodation businesses subscribing to visitscotland.com has increased by about 120 between last year and this.

Tourism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much revenue has been lost from members leaving visitscotland.com in each year since 2002.

Jim Mather: Visitscotland.com is not a member organisation, but a commercial enterprise set up to provide Scottish tourism businesses and accommodation providers a route to the quickly expanding sector of the market which wishes to use the internet to research and book holidays online. Since its launch in 2002, visitscotland.com has built up around 11,500 business subscribers, about 85% of which are small businesses such as B&Bs, guest houses and self caterers. Many of these receive very significant numbers of their bookings through visitscotland.com.

  Annual figures for the numbers of businesses which have ceased subscribing to visitscotland.com, or the income lost as a result, are not currently available because of the introduction of new software. However, the number of accommodation businesses subscribing to visitscotland.com has increased by about 120 between last year and this.

Tourism

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will list the major shareholders of eTourism Ltd, expressed as a percentage of ownership of the company and showing the location of each shareholder’s headquarters.

Jim Mather: The major shareholders of eTourism Ltd., their percentage ownership and the location of their headquarters are:

  

Tourco Ltd (VisitScotland)
36%
Edinburgh 


Tiscover UK Ltd
35%
Crawley, West Sussex*


Partnerships UK Ltd
22%
London


Atos Origin IT Services
7%
London 



  Note: *The global HQ of Tiscover is in Austria.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-95 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what actions it plans to take to ensure delivery of the right infrastructure for business success.

Stewart Stevenson: Details of the delivery of our current committed programme of major and important trunk road and rail infrastructure improvements can be found on the Transport Scotland website at www.transportscotland.gov.uk. Future transport investment priorities will be considered by the multi-modal Strategic Transport Projects Review (STPR) which is undertaking an objective, evidence-based, review of the existing performance and future requirements of the nationally strategic transport networks.

  Transport Scotland has the operational responsibility for this area, and can be contacted if required.

Transport

Des McNulty (Clydebank and Milngavie) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-95 by Stewart Stevenson on 1 June 2007, what actions it plans to take to achieve a focus on the needs of Scottish commuters and how it will work to make journeys greener, safer and easier.

Stewart Stevenson: We are promoting active travel through school travel co-ordinators, school and workplace travel plans and through funding local authorities, Cycling Scotland and Sustrans for infrastructure, services and cycling training.

  We will publish a 10-year plan to transform Scottish road safety and have already announced the setting up of an expert group on road safety to advise on what more could be done and provide options to provide greater protection for, particularly young, drivers.

  Future transport investment priorities will be considered by the multi-modal strategic transport projects review which is undertaking an objective, evidence-based, review of the existing performance and future requirements of the nationally strategic transport networks. This will include consideration for improvements to make journeys greener, safer and easier for Scottish commuters.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff have been made redundant at Transport Initiatives Edinburgh since May 2007.

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of staff made redundant at Transport Initiatives Edinburgh since May 2007 were working on the Edinburgh Airport Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: 7 of the 14 staff made redundant at Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd since May 2007 were working on the EARL project.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what instructions were given to Transport Initiatives Edinburgh by the Executive in advance of redundancy decisions since May 2007.

Stewart Stevenson: Transport Scotland instructed Transport Initiatives Edinburgh Ltd on 4 July 2007 that no more money should be spent on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project than is strictly unavoidable during the current review of its governance and future.

Transport

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will end the suspension of active work and expenditure on the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Stewart Stevenson: Once the results of the governance review are known, Transport Scotland will implement the Scottish Government’s view as to the best course of action to take for the Edinburgh Airport Rail Link project.

Voluntary Sector

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what its current commitment is to Project Scotland and what funding will be made available to it.

Jim Mather: ProjectScotland is a company limited by guarantee and registered as a charity whose aims and objectives are to promote the welfare and relieve the needs of the population in Scotland by encouraging and assisting young people to provide their skills and services voluntarily to charitable organisations. Full information about the work of Project Scotland is available from its chief executive at 49 Melville Street, Edinburgh, EH3 7HL.

  We provide grant to Project Scotland of £6.5 million in 2007-08. Decisions on future funding will be made in the context of the spending review.